Wutipong Dasom was left open with 43 seconds left as he made a three-point shot to help the Chang Thailand Slammers beat the JobStreet.com Singapore Slingers 58-56 at the ABL Hoops Fest Saigon 2013.
Chris Charles led his team with a double-double by scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Dasom and Darrius Brannon finished with 11 points each for the Slammers who outscored the Slingers 30-12 in the paint.
The Slingers started the game blazing hot when they took an early 17-2 lead on a left handed shot from Rashad Jones-Jennings. Chris Charles sparked a Slammers rally by scoring 7 points in the first quarter to cut the Slammers’ deficit to 20-15 after one quarter.
The Slammers kept on fighting in the third until they made a 10-0 run capped off by a field goal from Froilan Baguion and Charles, giving the Slammers a 43-40 lead with 3:34 left in the third quarter. Fortunately, the Slingers were able to gain their lead back behind Jun Cabatu’s hot hand. Cabatu scored 5 points late in the third quarter that gave the Slingers a 47-45 lead as the headed into the final quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Cabatu made a shot that stretched the Slingers lead to 6 points with 7:29 left in the game. Then things started to turn around as Chanachon Klahan made a pair of free throws and a lay-up from Brannon shaved the Slingers lead further to 55-53 with 5:10 left.
After a fast start in the first quarter, the Slingers struggled to find their offense late in the game. Up by 1 point, the Slingers left Dasom alone in the three-point line which led to the Slammers taking a 2 point lead with 43 seconds left. The Slingers had a chance to tie or win the game but Don Dulay converted a turnover as the Slingers suffered their seventh loss of the season.
Cabatu led the Slingers with 19 points while Jones-Jennings recorded a double-double after posting 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Slingers who only received 5 points off the bench.
The Slingers will have a tough weekend after the Hoops Fest which begins with an away game against the Westports Malaysia Dragons in MABA, Malaysia on the 22nd of March for next week’s ABL Friday Basketball game on FOX SPORTS (tip-off at 8pm local/HKT). After that, they will host the San Miguel Beermen on Sunday
the 24th of March at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The Slammers’ next game will see them take on the Indonesia Warriors on March 27th at Mahaka Square, Indonesia.
For up to date information about the JobStreet.com Singapore Slingers, always log on to the team’s official website, www.singaporeslingers.com. You may also follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/OfficialSingaporeSlingers and on Twitter, www.twitter.com/SGSlingers.
