Slingers turn back gritty Barracudas, now 3-0 in ABL

The Singapore Slingers leaned on the end-game heroics of imports Michael Le Blanc and Al Vergara to turn back the hard-fighting Brunei Barracudas, 82-80, to remain undefeated in the ASEAN Basketball League late Saturday night at the Brunei Indoor Stadium. LeBlanc, a former RP team reinforcement, and Filipino import Vergara added 15 makers as the Slingers streaked to their third straight win in the six-nation tournament. Unlike in their previous meeting, where Singapore cruised to an 87-69 rout, the Slingers needed Le Blanc and Vergara’s timely hits to ward off the challenge of the Bong Ramos-mentored Barracudas. The Barracudas, with former UAAP stars Leo Avenido and Kiko Adriano along with Americans Lonnis Jones and Michael Pilgrim, enjoyed a 44-39 halftime lead. But 6-foot-11 Kyle Jeffers bailed the Slingers out of trouble leading a 23-15 exchange to regain the lead, 62-59, entering the final canto. Avenido, a PBA journeyman, led the Barracudas with 20 points and seven rebounds. – GMANews.TV