HI-TECH Bangkok City v Jobstreet.com Singapore Slingers ABL Semi-Final Play-off Preview
Game 1: Wednesday October 29 at Thai-Japanese Stadium, Bangkok (7PM local)
Game 2: Friday October 31 at OCBC Arena, Singapore (8PM local)
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday November 2 at Thai-Japanese Stadium, Bangkok (7PM local)
This best-of-three series between the number two seed Hi-Tech Bangkok City and the number three seed JobStreet.com Singapore Slingers has a defensive battle written all over it. Game 1 of this series is set for Wednesday night at the Thai-Japanese Stadium, Bangkok with Game 2 on Friday 31st October at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
Singapore and Bangkok City finished the regular season first and second, respectively, in terms of points allowed per game. The Slingers only allowed 70.4 points per game, while Hi-Tech only allowed 71.7 points per game.
Hi-Tech finished the regular season with the second best record, 14-6. They are going to be led by two defensive monsters in Chris Charles and Steven Thomas. In his second season in the ABL, Charles averaged 21.4 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks per game. Hi-Tech will also rely heavily on Steve Thomas’ championship experience. The 6-foot-9 center has one championship under his belt and has been involved in the last three ABL Finals. Bangkok City’s point guard Jerick Canada, who was Thomas’ teammate in the last two seasons, is also filled with championship experience.
Patrick Cabahug and Wutipong Dasom will be the x-factors for Hi-Tech. Acquired during mid-season, Cabahug is on his top form by averaging 19.2 points per game in his 6 games this season. His best game came during his debut where he poured in 34 points against his former team Westports Malaysia Dragons. Meanwhile, Dasom had his best game against the Slingers on August 31 when he registered 20 points. Dasom is also Hi-Tech’s best perimeter defender. Another name that could make big contribution for Hi-Tech is Wattana Suttisin. In his last three games, Suttisin averaged 16. 3 points and shot 43% from behind the arc.
For the Jobstreet.com Singapore Slingers imports Dior Lowhorn and Justin Howard will have their hands full with defending Thomas and Charles. Offensively, Lowhorn will be a big weapon for the Slingers, Lowhorn finished the regular season as the leagues leading scorer with a 26.3 points per game average, while Howard finished second in the rebounding department with 15 rebounds per game.
“Facing Hi-Tech in the semi-final series is a huge challenge for us. After sitting on top the ABL ladder for nearly the entire regular season and having lost only two home game all season, Hi-Tech definitely deserve to start our series as the favorite,” said Slingers’ General Manager Michael Johnson. “We will give everything we have to pull off an upset.”
The Slingers bench will need to play big if the Slingers’ have a chance of pulling off an upset. Wong Wei Long is capable of scoring points on any given night, Wei Long enters the play-offs averaging 11 points per game in the regular season.
Singapore local players Russel Low, Larry Liew and Desmond Oh may emerge as a difference makers in this series. Low can help the slingers defensively, while Liew will stretch the floor with his ability to knock down the three ball. For Desmond Oh, he will have a big task of shutting down Hi-Tech quick guards.
Season Series: Slingers 3-1
July 30th: Hi-Tech 59 – 51 Slingers
August 31st: Slingers 78 – 75 Hi-Tech (overtime)
September 19th: Slingers 66 – 63 Hi-Tech
October 26th: Slingers 96 – 75 Hi-Tech
