SLINGERS begins New Year in style, winning in style against Philippines Bantang Pier Harbour Centre 97 - 72
5 January, 2009, 4:44 pm
The Singapore Slingers started the New Year in style as they thrashed a very resilient Bantang Pier Harbour Centre side from the Philippines 97- 72 in front of an estimated 2500 fans.
While the score was not really a good indicator on how the game went, but the visitors only had themselves to blame as they were less than 37% from the field and missed nine free throws to go along with it.
Coach Frank Arsego says, “I am pleased with the team’s performance today, especially Eric (Sandrin). He is one of our most consistent players but I feel he played exceptional today.
“22 points and 22 rebounds in just 35 minutes of play is just incredible. John (Fitzgerald) also had a very good game, contributing 18 points for us.”
Star player Eric Sandrin lived up to his reputation as he contributed five points, along with his six rebounds, while John Fitzgerald dropped eight as the teams traded the leaded for most of the first quarter before the Slingers finally took a 21 - 18 lead in an exciting first quarter.
The excitement spilled over to the second quarter as the players from both teams made great defensive and offensive plays to keep the fans on the edge of their seats.
Every time the Slingers threatened to pull away, they were pegged back by the never-say-die attitude of the Bantang Pier Harbour Centre players.
Sandrin maintained his good form, sinking seven points and grabbing five more rebounds, while Doctor Darren Ng and Fitzgerald contributed five points each to counter opponents Peejay Barua and Paul Rico Maierhofer’s efforts of eight and five points respectively to take a 44 – 38 lead into the break.
The break must have done something to spur the visiting team as they came out on the offensive in the third quarter and nearly leveled the game, trailing 49 – 48 at one point, before having key player Paul Rico Maierhofer ejected after collecting his fifth personal foul.
This proved the turning point as the Slingers were able to regroup and score some important basket to take a seven point, 63 – 56 lead in to the fourth and final quarter.
With everything to play for in the final quarter, it was never a doubt that the fans were kept on the edge of their seats and started getting behind their teams.
It was the Slingers that fired the first salvo, with Armein Kirkland scoring a three pointer just seconds after the re-start, stretching the lead to double digits for the first time in the game.
Although the visitors fought valiantly, Maierhofer’s absence proved vital as the Slingers stepped up a gear and took the game away by outscoring the visitors 78 – 61 with three minutes left on the clock.
Coach Frank received the loudest cheers of the game as he decided to make a triple substitution and bring on three local players – Hong Wei Jian, Steven Khoo and Desmond Oh.
For the first time in the Singapore Challenge Series, three Singaporeans are on court at the same time and Hong Wei Jian and Steven Khoo were on the score sheet.
Said Eric Sandrin, who scored a game high 22 points but was ejected in the fourth quarter due to foul troubles, “I was feeling good out there tonight. I had 22 points, which is decent by anyone’s standards and added 22 rebounds to go along with it. It was just incredible. The only disappointment I had was getting ejected.
“However, putting up a great show for the fans that came to watch us is more important for me and I felt that they enjoyed themselves today.”
Star Performers:
Singapore Slingers:
Eric Sandrin (22 pts, 22 rebounds)
John Fitzgerald (18 pts, 13 rebounds)
Bantang Pier Harbour Centre:
Peejay Barua (22 pts)
Aldrech Ramos (10 pts, 8 rebounds)
Story by Lenny Lim
