Singapore Slingers sink Saigon
| SAIGON HEAT | SINGAPORE SLINGERS |
| 65 | 90 |
Much has been made of the Singapore Slingers' mean defence but, last Saturday evening, they outclassed Saigon Heat 90-65 with their attacking prowess to preserve their perfect start to the Asean Basketball League (ABL) season.
Local forward Leon Kwek responded to being named the ABL Player of the Week by posting another career-high 23 points on the back of an efficient 11-of-19 field-goal shooting at the CIS Arena in Ho Chi Minh City.
Big centre Justin Howard registered a double-double by half-time en route to 28 points, 25 rebounds and seven assists, while swingman Xavier Alexander recorded his third straight double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Alexander said: "The teams have to adjust to us.
"We are working on our defence and our offence.
"It was successful for us tonight, just like in our last two games."
Howard reflected the team's mentality. He added: "Three and 0 (three wins in a row) sounds a lot better than 20 (points) and 20 (rebounds)."
The Slingers capitalised on the absence of Heat's two-time ABL import MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Christien Charles, who has a back injury, and raced to a 24-12 lead.
NOT ENOUGH
The Vietnamese hosts reduced the deficit to 26-19 at one stage in the second quarter, but those seven points turned out to be the only baskets they would make in that period, as the Slingers closed the half on an 18-0 run.
Heat's imports David Arnold, Lenny Daniel and Joshua Munzon contributed 56 of their side's 65 points.
The Singaporean club take on the league's only other unbeaten side, Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions, on Wednesday.
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