MANILA, Philippines - With three Filipino players and two hard-working imports in the fold, Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma looms as the chief rival of the defending champion Philippine Patriots in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) Season 2 which unfolds tomorrow at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig.
“Our five rivals have beefed up their respective rosters but I think Satria Muda BritAma is the strongest,” said RP Patriots coach Louie Alas “Aside from having two reliable imports, they have three Filipinos in their fold.”
They are former San Miguel Beer guard Kiko Adriano, veteran center Don Camaso and Ronald Capati.
They will join forces with imports Marcus Morrison and Jamal Holden in a bid to foil the Patriots’ back-to-back title bid.
RP swept Indonesia in last year’s finals.
Alas and team owners Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre and Tony Boy Cojuangco, however, remain unfazed by the Indons.
While admitting they still have to plug some holes in their play patterns and improve on their cohesiveness, Alas expects the Patriots to get better and stronger as the tournament goes on.
The Patriots open their campaign against the Brunei Barracudas on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
RP Patriots team manager Erick Arejola also picks the Singapore Slingers and the Kuala Lumpur Dragons as the other teams to beat in the tournament.
“The Slingers have beaten three PBA teams in their recent tune-up matches,” said Romero. “The Malaysian team has also Filipino players in its line-up.”
The Patriots have a prolific scorer in former PBA import Anthony Johnson and a veteran center in Donald Little but Alas wants to put premium on the team’s desire, determination and discipline.
“We can’t achieve our goal without one of them,” said Alas who also boasts of veteran players in Alex Crisano, JP Alcaraz, Warren Ybanez, Erwin Sta. Maria, Orly Daroya and Chito Jaime.