Singapore Slingers have shored up their backcourt for the 2016-17 ASEAN Basketball League with the signings of ASEAN import Alli Austria and Singaporean Mitch Folkoff.
The Slingers signed Austria this week after a successful two-week trial period in which he impressed the team’s management with his ability to fill a role at the point-guard position and defend with tenacity.
Folkoff returns to the team after a three-year absence developing business interests in Singapore. He played one season for the Slingers in 2013 before taking time off.
Slingers coach Neo Beng Siang said the two guards have a chance to play important roles for the Slingers this year, particularly early in the season as team captain Desmond Oh recovers from a wrist injury suffered at training last week.
“We needed some point guard support, and Alli is someone who can run the team and also be aggressive on defence,” coach Neo said.
“Mitch can also help us in that regard too, and he is slowly working his way back from a long layoff.”
Austria is a 25-year-old Filipino-American who was born and raised in San Francisco by his Filipino parents.
He played high-school basketball against NBA superstar Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers, and played college basketball at San Francisco State University.
Austria was drafted by the Philippine Basketball Association’s Mahindra Enforcer with the 44th pick in the 2015 PBA Draft, and then played for the MX3 Kings in last year’s ABL season.
He said he was excited by the opportunity to play with the Slingers.
“Hopefully I can contribute to the Slingers success,” he said.
“This is a well-run organisation, with a hard-working, competitive group of players with one goal in mind.”
Folkoff, 27, said it was his competitive spirit and love for the game that made him want to return to the Slingers.
“I hope I can contribute more offensively and be more consistent than my previous season,” he said.
Folkoff said he noticed many changes in the Slingers team since he last played in 2013.
“Everyone is a lot more confident,” he said.
“All the players are a lot more experienced and everyone understands the game plan more. There is a lot more depth in the team as well.”
Defensive specialist Oh is expected to miss the first 2-3 weeks of the season with the wrist injury, but coach Neo is confident the team’s new recruits can fill the void left by his inspirational captain.
Austria and Folkoff join Larry Liew and Tay Ding Loon as the team’s new signings for the 2016-17 season.
The ABL season tips off this Friday at OCBC Arena with the Singapore Slingers against Malaysia Dragons.
Article by Slingers contributor Michael Farrell
