The Singapore Slingers' American import Xavier Alexander driving to the basket in the Merlion Cup opening Group A game at the OCBC Arena yesterday evening. The forward scored 21 points and team-mate Justin Howard added 20 points to give the team a 79-71 win over Taiwanese side Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor in front of close to 1,500 fans. But a bigger test awaits the Slingers tomorrow when they face Shanghai Sharks, the Chinese Basketball Association team who developed retired star Yao Ming.