Games Wednesday

7 p.m. AirAsia PH Patriots vs Saigon

(Singapore Indoor Stadium)

8 p.m. Singapore vs San Miguel


BANGKOK - San Miguel is on a roll in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) as it turned back defending champion Chang Thailand Slammers, 68-59, for its second straight win Sunday at the Thai-Japanese Association gym here.

League veteran Leo Avenido sparked the Beermen’s huge second half surge, scoring eight of his total 14 points during the stretch, including a pair of three-point plays in the final quarter that bailed the rookie team out of danger.

After losing their debut game against league-leader Westport Malaysia in overtime, the Beermen had now won two in a row to forge a two-way tie for second with former champion AirAsia Philippines with similar 2-1(win-loss) cards.

Avenido, coming off a one-conference stint with Barako Bull in the PBA, shot just 5-of-14 from the field, but his second three-point play with three minutes left in the game, put the Beermen in full control, 64-54.

Import Dalron Johnson showed the way for the Beermen with 21 points, eight rebounds and two block shots while Doug Thomas had a quiet 10 points.

The Slammers lost for the third time in four games, but led the Beermen, 30-20, midway in the second period on a three-pointer by Filipino import Chester Tolomia.

Johnson, however, took over for the Beermen, sparking a 13-2 run ending the first half as San Miguel grabbed a 33-32 lead at the break.

Import Kenneth Walker paced the Slammers with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, while DeAndre Thomas and Tolomia added 15 and 11, respectively.



The scores

SAN MIGUEL (68) — Johnson 21, Avenido 14, Thomas 10, Fernandez 9, Rizada 5, Cabatu 3, Fajardo 3, Baguion 3, Mangahas 0, Luanzon 0, Gonzales 0.

CHANG THAILAND (59) — Walker 21, Thomas 15, Tolomia 11, Suttisin 5, Lertmalaiporn 4, Apiromvilaichai 3, Tintai 0, Sangthong 0, Williams 0.

Quarterscores: 15-19; 33-32; 51-48; 68-59.