By Ian Chew
John Fitzgerald of the Slingers (in red) drives to the basket. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Singapore Indoor Stadium, Saturday, 17 January, 2009 – In a fitting end to a successful season, Slingers head coach Frank Arsegio sent out an entire team of five Singaporean players in the final minutes of a 100-68 victory over the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) league legends Ginebra Kings.
Instead of crumbling against their more illustrious opponents, the local lads Hong Wei Jian, Desmond Oh, Tan Chin Hong, Steven Khoo and Pathman held their own and outscored their opponents. Wei Jian even finished the game with a crowd-pleasing dunk for two of his eleven points.
Ever the modest athlete, he insists that he has plenty of room for improvement.
“I’m really thankful to the coach for the opportunities to play in the game but I still have lots to learn – like making the correct decisions in the game,” said Wei Jian.
Apparently too, coach Frank Arsegio has bigger visions for the local basketball scene.
“We definitely do not intend to stop here,” explained the Australia-born Frank. “With the establishment of an ASEAN league soon, we hope to incorporate the best of local young talent into our team and select the best of them to come under the Slingers banner.”
“I will be looking forward to watching the inter-school basketball competitions after my holiday back in Australia and suss out the local scene myself!”
Slinger Eric Sandrin had started off the game with a spectacular alley oop dunk. Point guard Al Vergara showed great awareness in looping the ball to a trailing Eric for the slam. Both players continued their hot scoring form throughout the match and finished in double figures to lead the Slingers to a 100-68 victory.
USA-born Amien Kirkland also stepped up for the Slingers after the departure of three of his teammates Darren Ng, Shane MacDonald and Chris Daniels to lead all scorers with 23 points.
The match was not all one-sided as the visitors threatened a comeback in the third quarter. Led by Filipino-American Jeff Gloger, the Kings rallied to within two points of the Slingers, to the wild cheers of the mostly Filipino crowd.
Cries of “Gi-ne-bra, Gi-ne-bra” reverebrated around the stadium as the Slingers were completely caught off-guard by the sudden surge of energy in their opponents.
Yet the battle-hardened Slingers refused to be cowed.
Eric Sandrin scored a pair of consecutive 3-pointers and John Fitzgerald added a couple of baskets to spark the Slingers on a 14-2 run. Just like that, and the third quarter ended with the Slingers having their biggest lead at 69-51.
It was Al Vergara’s turn to shine in the fourth. Showing a great shooting touch, he downed two long-range shots from beyond the arc and eluded his marker for an easy lay-up. He finished the game with 15 points.
By now, a demoralised Kings failed to mount a response despite being bolstered by star players like Alex Crisano and Johnny Abarrientos.
However, the result hardly mattered in the end as the Ginebra Kings succeeded in entertaining the Filipino crowd by simply showing up.
The Slingers outfit too ended the season with their heads held high as they looking forward to a new chapter for local basketball.
It would be a shame though, if the team were disbanded as the players have definitely connected with the fans in some ways. Hopefully, at least a few of the current squad could be persuaded to sign on for the new season with the Slingers. © Red Sports
Pathman has seen an average of 18 minutes for the Slingers in the challenge series. (Photo 2 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Eric Sandrin jumps over a Ginebra player for two. (Photo 3 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Wei Jian had a good outing for the Slingers, scoring 11 points. (Photo 4 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Armien Kirkland hits a jumper in his game-high 23-point performance. (Photo 5 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
JJ O’Brien of the Slingers driving in to the baseline. (Photo 6 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
A pro-Ginebra crowd of 4,000 came out to watch the popular PBA team. (Photo 7 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Wei Jian dunks for two at the buzzer to finish off the game with a flourish. (Photo 8 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Al Vegara drives to the basket for two. (Photo 9 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
See 1st Quarter Highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLTIiYUMaMw
See 2nd Quarter Highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ6fxxNwU1M
See 3rd Quarter Highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKlWBHt_wOg
See 4th Quarter Highlights (see Wei Jian’s two-handed dunk!):
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtXiIcgi2g
Well said les, about the national outfit and professional outfit.
179cm to be exact..
wei jian height is 18+cm…
What is weijian height?
The fact that the Singers beat Ginebra regardless of what reasons.
Slingers won in the game but lost to Ginebra of entertaining the crowds. Slingers was not entertaining crowds enough (can be improve more), but Ginebra entertained you guys in the game and even they lost, they will make sure you go home with a smile face instead of an angry face. I really loved how Ginebra entertained you guys. And even they were not strong team in PBA, they still earn a lot of money due to entertaining you guys and hoped you guys will come back and let them entertain you more. Its worth for you guys to buy the tickets and being entertained.
By the way, I am a Slingers fan and I am just speaking the facts of what I observed. So no offence to both Slingers team and Ginebra team. Cheers =)
Filipino-americans, yes the’re of mixed race (filipino blood mixed w/ american blood) but comparing to American acquiring singaporean citizenship- nahhh. i dont think so..cannot compare dude.
See if your 100% singaporean team can reach half mark playing w/all filipino team.
this singaporeans really think they are really good with sandrin,etc..get your team together with one of our philippines team on a league and we’ll see whose gonna make the trash out of eachother..
Talk N Text came to practice with the Slingers recently in preparation for their playoff games in the PBA and lost the first game. The second game, they trailed 60-31 at half time and the Talk N Text coach called off the rest of the game.
If not for mixed race Filipino-Americans, would Philippines be better in basketball compared to Singapore? I doubt it. If Eric Sandrin or Darren Ng would have a citzenship with us, we could beat Philippines which has so many FIlipino-Americans in their team
Most Filipinos are not progressive and globalised enough. They have no idea what is a professional team. They keep on comparing national teams which is totally relevant. Ginebra got thrashed up hard 100-68. That is a fact. Singapore is globalised. Everyone in the world is welcomed to our country and to be our citizen. The Singaporeans=chinese, malay, indians only no longer holds true in today’s Singapore. By the way, most players in Philippines’ national team are also mixed race with Americans and grew up in America.
Most of us in Singapore make the distinction between a professional outfit and a national outfit.
Our national pride is not tied up with having a Slingers team full of Singaporeans.
We know also that the Philippines are the best in Southeast Asia.
We take the Slingers for what they are: a professional outfit of basketball players with a cosmopolitan background playing entertaining bball.
It was professional outfit vs professional outfit and on the day, the Slingers won.
Pros don’t make excuses about who’s missing. They come to play and hate to lose, even in friendlies. I’m sure that’s the case for Ginebra.
Your reference to ‘other country’ is an unnecessary tweak and tangential to the argument.
In Singapore, we enjoy talents from anywhere who can put on a good sporting show – Filipinos, Chinese, Australians and Americans are all welcome.
eh, aint pulling your body upwards using the rim illegal? only if there is people under/around, to avoid injuries. >_>
Key players? Most of the “key players” in the Slinger’s line-up came from other countries. If not for them, would they be that “good”? Anyway, let them play again once both teams have their true line-up and in a serious field. Ginebra was out to win it yes. But they were more into giving their fans what they want, and that is to see them play. I’ve seen how the Slingers played with a complete line-up, and I’ve seen how Ginebra played with a complete line-up too. Comparing both teams, well, that’s elementary.
Correction, Alex Crisano and Johnny Abarrientos are not the stars of the team. Johhny is the skills coach of Ginebra and Alex is just a big guy with lots of tattoos. The stars of Ginebra did not play in this game. So don’t be so proud with your win.
Both sides didn’t have their key players. They are no friendly games the minute they cross the line into the court.
Ginebra were out to win it, unless you’re saying the squad has no professional pride.
Ginebra didnt play their starplayerss..
woohoos. Congrats to WeiJian to became the first Slinger to score double-digits!