SINGAPORE – The Singapore Slingers fell short against the visiting Hong Kong Eastern in a nail-biting double overtime thriller at the OCBC Arena.
Both teams started out slow as the opening quarter ends with a 13-12 tally. John Fields carried the load for the home squad from the get-go with eight markers.
The Hong Kong-based cagers found their rhythm as they created a 10-point lead in the second frame, the biggest margin of the game. Eastern relied on the hot hands of sharpshooter Lee Ki who fired two treys out of five attempts before both teams entered the dugout at the half.
But the Slingers went on a surge in the third quarter courtesy of Fields, Xavier Alexander, and Jerran Young. The three imports combined for 22 points to get them to within one, 50-49.
At the 6:30 mark, Alexander stole the ball from Wu Cheuk, ultimately grabbing the top spot of the all-time steals list away from ABL veteran Froilan Baguion. The four-year mainstay of the Slingers now holds the record with most steals with 209.
It was a nip and tuck final canto with both teams unwilling to give up the lead. Unfortunately for the home squad, imports Young and Fields fouled out in the dying minutes. Desmond Oh, the heart and soul of the team, also had to leave the court with a shoulder injury after taking a hard screen against the towering Sam Deguara. Oh will have his shoulder checked on Monday.
In the last seconds of the fourth quarter, Delvin Goh was put to the test in the charity stripe but only made one, forcing the game into overtime. The neck-and-neck clash continued with both teams exchanging baskets until Eastern got a three-point advantage with less than a minute left.
Ng Han Bin sank the crucial top-of-the-key three-pointer to tie the game. On the other end, Chan Siu was fouled but only made one. Before the buzzer ended, Jun Yuan was fouled as well with a chance to win the ball game. But he likewise split his charities, sending the game into a second overtime, the first double OT of the season.
The Slingers eventually ran out of fuel, succumbing to a meltdown led by Eric Ferguson as the Eastern handed Singapore its second loss.
The Singapore Slingers will look to bounce back as they go on the road once again and face the undefeated San Miguel Alab Pilipinas on Sunday.
SCORES:
Singapore Slingers – Fields (25), Alexander (25), Goh (11), Young (10), Liew (6), Oh (3), Ng (3), Yuan (3), Lim (2), Tay (1)
Hong Kong Eastern – Ferguson (27), Elliott (21), Lee (16), Chan (11), Siu (11), Deguara (4), Lau (2)
