Saigon Heat players.(Photo: ASEAN Basketball League)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s basketball team Saigon Heat are confident of facingdefending champions Westports Dragons Malaysia at the ASEAN Basketball League(ABL) at 5pm at CIS Arena in HCM City on March 11.
On March 5, the Heat defeated the second-placed Singapore Slingers 75-73 inSingapore, which has given the team a huge shot of confidence. For the past twoyears, the Slingers had always won against the Heat on home turf.
After showing strength under duress against Alab Pilipinas, the Dragons willhave to do their best against the Heat. Losing to them (6-9) will end the defendingchampions’ campaign this year; it’s win or go home for them. There will be noroom for error for the Dragons (4-13) as they try to hang on to their slimchances of making it to the tournament’s playoffs.
It will be the final regular season match-up between the two sides. The Dragonsmay have the upper hand in the head-to-head series, two games to one, but theHeat have been the stronger team in the past month.
The Vietnamese team came back from a six-point deficit to begin the fourthquarter, and outscored the Slingers 20-12, with Lenny Daniel scoring eight ofhis 22 points in the playoff period.
Jordan Henriquez proved to be a valuable presence at both ends as well, as hetallied 14 points, 14 rebounds, and an ABL career-high six blocks. Moses Morganadded 16 points, eight boards, two steals, and two blocks.
At 6-9, having won five of the last seven games, the Heat are looking to widenthe gap between themselves and the fifth-running Kaohsiung Truth, who hold a5-11 record.
A victory on Friday will give the Heat not just a full two-win lead over theTruth, but it will also eliminate the Dragons from the race. That would meanmoving closer to clinching a playoff berth. – VNA
On March 5, the Heat defeated the second-placed Singapore Slingers 75-73 inSingapore, which has given the team a huge shot of confidence. For the past twoyears, the Slingers had always won against the Heat on home turf.
After showing strength under duress against Alab Pilipinas, the Dragons willhave to do their best against the Heat. Losing to them (6-9) will end the defendingchampions’ campaign this year; it’s win or go home for them. There will be noroom for error for the Dragons (4-13) as they try to hang on to their slimchances of making it to the tournament’s playoffs.
It will be the final regular season match-up between the two sides. The Dragonsmay have the upper hand in the head-to-head series, two games to one, but theHeat have been the stronger team in the past month.
The Vietnamese team came back from a six-point deficit to begin the fourthquarter, and outscored the Slingers 20-12, with Lenny Daniel scoring eight ofhis 22 points in the playoff period.
Jordan Henriquez proved to be a valuable presence at both ends as well, as hetallied 14 points, 14 rebounds, and an ABL career-high six blocks. Moses Morganadded 16 points, eight boards, two steals, and two blocks.
At 6-9, having won five of the last seven games, the Heat are looking to widenthe gap between themselves and the fifth-running Kaohsiung Truth, who hold a5-11 record.
A victory on Friday will give the Heat not just a full two-win lead over theTruth, but it will also eliminate the Dragons from the race. That would meanmoving closer to clinching a playoff berth. – VNA
VNA
