The Singapore Slingers today confirmed their 10 home game dates for the upcoming 2015-16 ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) season.
The 2015-16 ABL season will be the toughest in the league’s 5-year history. With the addition of the Pacquiao Powervit Pilipinas Aguilas from the Philippines and the Mono Vampires from Thailand, the ABL looks to have top to bottom the best line up of teams to date.
The Slingers tipoff their season with a two game road trip against defending champions Hi-Tech Bangkok City followed by the Saigon Heat two days later in Saigon. With venue availability issues in Singapore, the Slingers will play just 2 of their first 10 games at home this season.
Slingers Head Coach Neo Beng Siang said “Ideally, we would have preferred to have a more even split of home and away games to start the season but we understand that playing at OCBC Arena means the venue may not be available.”
This season’s ABL will see a change to the number of imports allowed per team. The total number of imports per team has been reduced from 5 to 4 – teams will be allowed to field 2 World Imports and 2 ASEAN/Heritage imports only.
Slingers management has traditionally gone with at least one less import than the other teams and this season they seem set to continue this trend, allowing more opportunities for the local players on the roster.
Coach Neo added “We have been fortunate that the Slingers owners and management have been very supportive of the Basketball Association of Singapore and the development of the National Team (NT). This has meant greater opportunities and playing time for the local players in the ABL.”
The synergy and smooth transition between the Slingers and the NT program, with 8-9 National Team players as well as the head coach of the National Team in the Slingers program has seen the National Team win 2 SEA Games Bronze Medals in the past two years after a 34 year medal drought.
Catch all the Singapore Slingers home games live at OCBC Arena as they take on regional professional teams in the ASEAN Basketball League. The first home game is slated on Sunday, 8th Nov, 2015.
SINGAPORE SLINGERS 2015/16 ABL REGULAR SEASON HOME SCHEDULE
Sunday 8th Nov 2015 – Singapore Slingers vs Mono Vampire Basketball Club (Thailand)
Friday 13th Nov 2015 – Singapore Slingers vs Westport Malaysia Dragons
Sunday 3rd Jan 2016 – Singapore Slingers vs Mono Vampire Basketball Club (Thailand)
Sunday 10th Jan 2016 – Singapore Slingers vs Pacquiao Powervit Pilipinas Aguilas
Sunday 17th Jan 2016 – Singapore Slingers vs Hi-Tech Bangkok City
Sunday 31st Jan 2016 – Singapore Slingers vs Saigon Heat
Friday 5th Feb 2016 – Singapore Slingers vs Hi-Tech Bangkok City
Sunday 14th Feb 2016 – Singapore Slingers v sWestport Malaysia Dragons
Sunday 21st Feb 2016 – Singapore Slingers vs Saigon Heat
All Singapore Slingers home games are played at the OCBC ARENA at the Singapore SportsHub.
Friday games start at 8:00pm. Sunday games start at 4:00pm.
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