By Jan Lin/Red Hoops.
Michael Pilgrim put in a double-double performance for the Barracudas with 20 points and 15 rebounds and was on-court for practically the whole game. (Photo 1 © Lee Suening)
Brunei Indoor Stadium, Wednesday, December 9, 2009 – The Brunei Barracudas rescued themselves from the pits of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) table with a 80-63 home victory over the visiting KL Dragons.
It was sweet revenge for the Barracudas, who had suffered a painful 76-73 defeat when the Dragons visited on October 18th. The Barracudas had initially embarrassed the Dragons at home in Malaysia on October 14th with a 94-76 thrashing.
Both teams dished out a different roster in their third meeting on Wednesday. The hosts dropped American Lonnie Jones for the services of Reggie Larry, while the Dragons went from a two-import team at the start of the ABL to one with five starting imports.
The hosts fielded their local vice-captain Esmond Tan alongside imports Michael Pilgrim, Reggie Larry, captain Francis Adriano and Leonidez Avenido, while the Dragons started with Jamal Brown, Roel Hugnatan, Fhadzmir Bandaying, Rudy Lingganay and Chris Kuete.
Both teams were neck-and-neck for three quarters with the hosts holding a slim lead at the end of every quarter before exploding in the final five minutes to lead the visitors by 12 points, then adding another four points with two minutes to go on the clock.
The dejected Dragons did, however, produced the top scorer of the game. Dragons’ Cameroon import Chris Kuete had a double-double on 24 points and 17 rebounds. Brunei Barracudas ASEAN import Leonidez Avenido lead his team with 21 points, while both American imports Michael Pilgrim and Reggie Larry had a double-double each.
Barracudas Filipino head coach, Bong Ramos, told the Brunei Times: “They (Barracudas) had watched the game where the (Thailand) Tigers defeated the (Singapore) Slingers and they needed the win knowing that they are at the bottom of the table. So they came out wanting to take it and got it after all their sacrifices over the past two weeks.”
The Dragons replace the Barracudas at the bottom of the ABL table while the Barracudas moved into fifth position, a psychological boost for them as they host current ABL leader Philippine Patriots this Sunday, 4pm, at the Brunei Indoor Stadium in Berakas.
Quarter by Quarter Scores
Brunei Barracudas v KL Dragons
1st Q: 22-19
2nd Q: 23-23
3rd Q: 14-11
4th Q: 21-10
Brunei Barracudas Game Box Score
| # | Name | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | TR | AST | STL | BS | TO | PF | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hee Lee Ho | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:15 |
| 7 | Aik Hock Lim | DNP | ||||||||||||
| 9 | *Francis Adriano | 12 | 4/8 | 1/3 | 3/4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 32:05 |
| 11 | Benjamin Sim | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3:45 |
| 12 | Celedon Camaso | 5 | 2/6 | 1/4 | 0/0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19:21 |
| 13 | *Michael Pilgrim | 20 | 8/20 | 0/0 | 4/5 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 39:24 |
| 18 | *Leonidez Avenido | 21 | 8/17 | 2/5 | 3/6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 37:26 |
| 20 | Yeh Leong Fong | DNP | ||||||||||||
| 22 | K.Leong Soon | DNP | ||||||||||||
| 24 | *Reggie Larry | 16 | 7/19 | 1/5 | 1/1 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 39:47 |
| 33 | *Esmond Tan | 3 | 1/2 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20:19 |
| 36 | Chee Choun Lim | 3 | 1/2 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5:38 |
| Total | 80 | 31/76 | 7/21 | 11/16 | 10 | 32 | 42 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 200 |
KL Dragons Game Box Score
| # | Name | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | TR | AST | STL | BS | TO | PF | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wee Chuan Chin | DNP | ||||||||||||
| 3 | *Chris Daniel Kuete Lonichi | 24 | 9/24 | 1/4 | 5/9 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38:14 |
| 5 | Ho Yeow Loong | DNP | ||||||||||||
| 10 | *Rudy Lingganay | 5 | 2/17 | 1/9 | 0/0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 28:45 |
| 12 | *Bandaying Fhadzmir | 10 | 4/13 | 2/9 | 0/1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 28:46 |
| 14 | Koh Way Tek | 4 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 2/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2:26 |
| 18 | *Roel Hugnatan | 12 | 5/9 | 1/4 | 1/2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 22:42 |
| 20 | Loh Shee Fai | 0 | 0/3 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7:59 |
| 24 | Chai Chze Hian | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:36 |
| 30 | *Jamal Brown | 4 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 4/4 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 39:02 |
| 33 | Chee Li Wei | 4 | 2/5 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12:13 |
| 88 | Guganeswaran S. Batumalai | 0 | 0/3 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16:17 |
| Total | 63 | 23/77 | 5/30 | 12/20 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 18 | 200 |
Leonidez Avenido had a game-high 21 points for the Barracudas. (Photo 2 © Lee Suening)
KL Dragons’ Cameroon import Chris Kuete (in red) was the top scorer of the game with an impressive double-double score card of 24 points and 17 rebounds, but it was not enough to carry his team through. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports file photo)
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The barracudas has shown their full stamina, thats always been an issue from the beginning of their conquest. i hope they can sustain it all throughout.
(I’m basing my comments on the stats particularly points, so I might be very wrong)
Brunei’s and KL’s locals have not really been involved prominently on their games. Dragons has seen its locals’ contributions disappear since the entry of the 3 Pinoys.
I think everybody expected this from Brunei since the start – they’re still trying to develop their local talent.
But for KL: I expected this team’s and Patriots’ locals to figure prominently on their games. I always thought Malaysia is second to Philippines when it comes to ASEAN basketball.
So far:
3 of Thailand’s locals have really been part of their rotation and have delivered almost every game. No. 55 has shown he can take charge of the scoring. Kruatiwa is on fire lately from downtown.
Singapore’s locals are not as consistent although at least 3 of them can explode any given night.
for Indonesia, their point guard (perhaps the most important position especially against a full-court pressing Patriots team) is a regular fixture on the rotation. I’m not sure about the other locals.
Any news on whether Indonesia is signing up another Pinoy? I hope they sign up Paul Lee.
How I wish Talk N Text will unload RenRen Ritualo and let him sign up with an ABL team. This guy is a fearless shooter, when he gets the ball off the screen he then goes up in the air for his jumpshot even if he has not even looked if his opponent is right on his face. His shooting touch is just wasting on the bench.
Les,Jan is The game between baracudas and Patriots will be air over ESPN this weekend?
@Hanoi-sg
I think they will the air Dragons-Tigers game.
@mart
I will find out for you guys regarding the new Filipino import, I’ve heard about it from Alex Hartman but he says it wasn’t confirmed.
@jan,
Thanks…
With the locals’ performance against the Slingers, maybe they should backtrack on hiring another ASEAN import. But if their goal is to beat the Patriots maybe they should. Depends on Satria’s short term and long term goals are.
SMB’s involvement in the current IBL is paying dividends. Gives the local players confidence. Nothing beats an official game to develop your skills.
Jan, thnx to update, i will follow watch over ESPN.
While the games between slingers vs tigers this thursday @ SIS, i to watch the game live, for sure.
Huge win for Barracudas against Patriots, home court is an added advantage.
If patriots american imports play well, even without baclao , espiritu or whomsoever, Patriots can win.