Patriots seek revenge vs Barracudas

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Patriots try to get back at the Brunei Barracudas as they clash for the second time in eight days at resumption of action in the ASEAN Basketball League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City today.

The unfancied Barracudas surprised the Patriots at home last week, pulling off a surprisingly easy 95-70 victory to boost their semifinal bid while snapping the Patriots’ six-game winning streak.

Brunei import Mike Pilgrim even described the victory in the local newspaper Brunei Times as “the mother of all victories”.

“Maybe it’s true because we were never expected to lose that big,” said Patriots coach Louie Alas. “But we will try to play as hard as we can to beat them.”

The Patriots are coming off a hard-earned 76-70 win over the KL Dragons last Saturday with American import Brandon Powell scoring 13 points in the first half and finishing with 20.

Against the Barracudas, Powell struggled for just three points.

“I told him to redeem himself because he’s an import,” Alas said of the 22-year-old Powell. “I hope he will continue his impressive play.”

The Patriots will also rely on 6-foot-10 American import Jason Dixon, who had 15 points and 15 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double performance, along with locals Jaypee Alcaraz, Warren Ybanez, Froilan Baguion and Nonoy Baclao.

The Barracudas, on the other hand, will again lean on Pilgrim, fellow American reinforcement Reggie Larry and Filipino cagers Leo Avenido, Don Camaso and Kiko Adriano as they try to make it two in row against the Patriots.