Singapore Indoor Stadium, Sunday, January 31, 2010 – Controversial refereeing calls and trash talking among the players and fans served only to heighten the excitement and drama in the semi-final playoff of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) between the Singapore Slingers and Satria Muda BritAma.

The Slingers kept their cool and focus to pull away 25-17 in the fourth quarter for a comprehensive 87-68 victory. The win enabled the home team to take a 1-0 lead going into the second leg of the best-of-three semi final series.

Key to the win were the solid numbers posted by Kyle Jeffers and Michael LeBlanc, who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds each. The rest of the starters – Al Vergara, Hong Wei Jian and Marcus Ng also contributed about 10 points each in a balanced offensive performance.

The contest was a close fight in the first half though.

Both teams managed to cancel each other out with stifling defenses and that resulted in a low scoring 35-31 scoreline at the half in the Slingers’ favour. The Slingers may have had the edge in terms of a higher scoring percentage, but they had also committed more turnovers at this stage.

Yet the Slingers manage to turn the game around in the second half with a 52-37 run.

“We made some key adjustments to their zonal defense during the break,” explained Frank Arsego, Slingers head coach about the team’s improvement in the second half.

Another key to the win was the improved free throw shooting of the Slingers, who scored 21 out of 29 attempts at the line for a seventy two per cent conversion rate. They had only averaged sixty two per cent in the regular season.

“What can I say? I guess we are more comfortable in our home court,” was Frank’s reply, adding that he would love to repeat the team’s good shooting form in Jakarta.

They will certainly need that as well as their heads for what is shaping up to be a rough reception in Indonesia. Satria Muda’s centre Miller Nakiea was involved in a running battle with Slingers centre Kyle Jeffers throughout the game and was even embroiled in some off-court exchanges with some fans. Miller’s subsequent exit on his fifth foul was also a key determinant in his team’s loss and he showed how affected he was by sarcastically applauding the jeering crowd all the way to his bench.

Coach Frank was unfazed by all the off-court scenes though.

“We hope to win the game in Indonesia (and clinch the series) instead of coming back for a third decisive game back home and we are definitely not resting on our laurels,” he said.

Brave words, but the spirited response of a wounded Satria Muda team may prove too much for the Slingers to handle in Jakarta tonight. Yet the quality of an improved and ready Slingers team should shine through eventually.

Look out for the Slingers to advance to the final on a 2-1 advantage.

See fourth quarter highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JoV01Masos

See third quarter highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OF1u_Izl0c

See second quarter highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4JyOV5bUx4

See first quarter highlights:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0mCL9mLTMs