The Singapore Slingers knew they were in for a tough match as they took on the league-dealing Mono Vampire Basketball Club on their home floor at GSB Stadium 29. A rough start for the Slingers knocked them down early and the game became an uphill climb from the jump.
Singapore fought valiantly led by Xavier Alexander and Marcus Elliott but it was not nearly enough to defeat the top team as Mono Vampire scored an 87-77 victory, going up 2-0 in their season series against the Slingers.
Mono Vampire started like a house on fire as they also capitalized on the Slingers’ early mistakes. Tyler Lamb scored six early points while Singapore committed four turnovers in the first three minutes of the contest to allow the home team a 12-0 start.
The Thai squad also ended the first quarter with an 11-0 run to lead 28-10.
Mono Vampire led by as many as 21 points, 57-36, early in the third quarter but the Slingers fought back led by Elliott’s 10 points in the period as they were within striking distance, 66-54, heading into the final period.
The Slingers finally gained rhythm midway through the fourth as Alexander and Leon Kwek hit back-to-back triples to trim their deficit to seven, 76-69, which was the closest they got since the opening minutes of the match. However, the depth of Mono Vampire was simply too much to overcome with Moses Morgan, Michael Morrison, Freddie Lish, and Lamb all chipping in to put the finishing touches in the win.
Alexander led Singapore with 25 points with 10 rebounds but he struggled from the field, making only six of his 20 attempts. Elliott shot even worse with five made baskets off 17 attempts en route to 20 points.
Anthony McClain managed to pick up 15 points and 16 rebounds but the local starters struggled with Kwek and Delvin Goh combining for only six points.
Mike Singletary led five members of Mono Vampire scoring in double digits as he finished with 20 points. Lamb added 19 points on four of eight shooting from downtown as he is now the top player in ABL history in three-point shots made, dislodging Wong Wei Long.
The Slingers will be back in action against the Kuala Lumpur Dragons for the third time in two weeks this Sunday at the OCBC Arena.
