Slingers lose Game One, home-court advantage, possibly key player in ABL Finals
SINGAPORE — Not only did the Singapore Slingers lose Game One of the Asean Basketball League (ABL) Finals on Friday (3 May), they also lost home-court advantage and possibly one of their key players for the best-of-five series.
The heavy 67-86 defeat by CSL Knights Indonesia at OCBC Arena means that the Slingers will have to win at least one game at their opponents’ raucous home arena in Surabaya next week to stand a chance of winning their first ABL title in three Finals appearances.
More worryingly, they might have to do without the services of American import Jerran Young, who limped off in the second quarter with a suspected hamstring injury and could be out for the entire series. Young is averaging 19.9 points and 7.4 rebounds this season.
Do-or-die Game Two
As the Slingers trooped off the court, licking their wounds and pondering how to lift themselves for Sunday’s Game Two, head coach Neo Beng Siang offered a terse assessment of their next game, “It’s do or die. We must win.”
He was even more blunt on his side’s Game One performance, labelling it “embarrassing”.
“Defensively, we did not do a good job as a team today. Offensively, we were too individualistic and eager to go one-on-one, and failed to execute as team,” he added. “We also lost a bit of morale after Jerran went down injured.
“We just have adjust everything quickly and be ready for Game Two.”
In front of a sell-out OCBC Arena with a noisy, 2,900-strong crowd, the Slingers surprisingly came out flat against the Knights, as the visitors sped to an 8-0 lead.
A quick time-out by Neo finally woke them up, and they eventually managed to lead 32-30 in the second quarter after some stellar defensive stops by American centre John Fields (19 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks).
After the first half ended 38-37 in the Knights’ favour, however, the Slingers again started the second half limply, allowing their opponents to score at will and making careless turnovers in offence, much to Neo’s displeasure on the sidelines.
Impressive Knights can still improve: coach
With imports Douglas Herring (17 points), Darryl Watkins (23 points) and an impressive Maxie Esho (24 points) leading the way, the Knights dominated the second half as they overwhelmed the Slingers on 59.4 per cent field-goal shooting (19 of 32 shots) after half-time.
Ominously for the Slingers, Knights coach Brian Rowsom insisted that his side can still improve.
“We missed quite a few free throws, and a few open shots too,” he said after the game. “So we have to work on those areas and keep up our good defensive efforts for Game Two.”
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