RP Patriots slam Indonesians, boost bid

MANILA, Philippines - American import Jason Dixon posted his fourth straight double-double performance yesterday and helped the Philippine Patriots win its six sixth straight game, 81-69, in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Championship at The Arena in San Juan.

The 6-foot-10 Dixon dominated the middle anew, pouring in 23 points – his best so far in the league – and grabbing 14 boards as the Patriots remained perfect at home for a 7-1 record.

“He’s really improving,” said the RP Patriots coach Louie Alas of Dixon, who also had four assists, two blocks and a steal in 35 minutes of action. “I think he was also challenged.”

Alas said Indonesian imports Alex Hartman and Nakiea Miller were overheard saying something against the Patriots and this infuriated Dixon and fellow import Brandon Powell.

“Dixon did not like what he heard, so he really played very hard today,” said Alas.

The game was close only in the first two quarters before Dixon, Powell, JP Alcaraz and Rob Wainwright came through with clutch shots in the third to rip the game wide apart.

The win was the sixth straight for the Patriots, who boosted their bid for the No. 1 seed in the Final 4.

Two free throws by Dixon gave the Patriots a commanding 76-58 lead which the Indons couldn’t overcome. They slipped to 4-5.

Even with the 6-foot-9 Miller around, there was no way the Indonesians could reverse the situation as Wainwright drained three triples en route to 15 points. Alcaraz and Powell also had two triples each to finish with 12 and 9 points, respectively.

Hartman paced the Indonesians with 24 while Miller added 20, but the two were hardly a factor in the fourth quarter as the Patriots tightened up their defensive alignment.

Miller was blocked three times in the first half and was so frustrated that he elbowed Elmer Espiritu near the end of the second quarter.

Also hurting Indonesia’s cause was its poor free throw shooting, making only 15 of 26 triees.