SINGAPORE -- Import Nakiea Miller was thrown out of his comfort zone early but Al Vergara, Bogs Raymundo and Aldrech Ramos hit the clutch baskets as the AirAsia Philippine Patriots outlasted the Singapore Slingers, 80-75, in a rugged game in the AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League Sunday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Miller, who won the Best Import award while playing for the Kuala Lumpur Dragons last year, was held to just 10 points and three rebounds -- far cry from his close to 20 points and 16 rebounds in the team's first five games.

Aside from Miller's 'poor' outing, the Patriots also survived several dubious calls and non-calls to notch their fourth straight and fifth win overall in six games and keep their hold of the solo lead in the 8-team tournament now on its third season.

Poor officiating nearly turned the game into a boxing match as team enforcers Erick Rodriguez and Ardy Larong got into trouble against the Donald Little, the 6-foot-11 import of the Slingers.

Larong was later disqualified on fouls but not after hitting Little in the abdomen.

Vergara was at his usual best, finishing with 14 points -- his second triple enabled the Patriots to regain the lead, 52-48, late in the third quarter. He also had three assists.

"That was a big shot, that kept us going because of some circumtances that almost ruined our game," said coach Glenn Capacio.

The Patriots bloated their lead to 9 points early in the fourth, 66-57, which they valiantly protected to hand the host squad their third setback in seven games,

Capacio and Anthony Johnson, the team's other import, later rued the officiating.

"I programed myself not to get angry because it will not do good to my health but they (referees) made me mad. Grabe, patas akong lumaban, pero kapag ganito nakakataas ng BP (blood pressure)," he added.

Despite the non-calls on him, Johnson finished with 26 points.

"They (Slingers) were all over me but the referees won't call," lamented Johnson.

Raymundo scattered 11 points while Ramos made his presence felt after missing the team's last three games with 9 points and four boards.

The scores:

PH Patriots 80 -- Johnson 26, Vergara 14, Raymundo 11, Miller 10, Ramos 9, Ybanes 4, Rodriguez 3, Larong 3, Wainwright 0, Juntilla 0, Fernandez 0, Laure 0.

Singapore Slinngers 75 -- Graham 19, Canta 19, Little 16, Wong 14, Khoo 4, Wong 2, Khoo 1, Oh 0, Lim 0, Matialakan 0, Goh 0, Ng.

Quarters: 18-11, 31-36, 59-54, 80-75.