Slingers coach Frank Arsego: “We’ve got too many passengers. Simple as that.”
By Les Tan/Red Hoops in Jakarta
There was no way back from an 11-point deficit for the Slingers this time with just 44 seconds left on the clock at the BritAma Arena. (Photo 1 © Dawn Yip/Red Sports)
Jakarta, Saturday, December 12, 2009 – The Singapore Slingers fell 58-67 to Satria Muda BritAma to continue their poor run of form in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).
This was the Slingers’ third defeat in a row and they now have a 5-4 win-loss record. After a 4-0 start to the season, the Slingers are now 1-4 in their last five games.
The Slingers trailed only by four points (31-35) at half-time but started to splutter in the third. Turnovers and missed baskets saw the Slingers score only two points for a long stretch in the third quarter.
Marcus Ng then lifted the Slingers with some drives in the paint but Satria Muda put an end to any Slinger resurgence to end the third quarter nine points ahead.
The Slingers were never in the game in the fourth and there was no repeat this time of their come-from-behind 61-59 victory over the Jakarta-based club last month. That was also the last time the Slingers won a game.
The Slingers trailed by as many as 16 points and were playing catch up for most of the game.
The assessment of the team’s performance by the Slingers head coach Frank Arsego was brutal.
“Last couple of weeks, we’ve started well but we can’t maintain the level of play. We’ve got too many passengers. Simple as that. From the beginning, we’ve worked towards a very team-oriented programme, and right now, a lot of people are letting a lot of other people down.
“It’s a difficult time. Until some people build their confidence, build their ability to perform under pressure, we are probably going to struggle for a bit longer until we solve that. That’s what I believe the problem is,” said Arsego.
“We are not consistently playing well under pressure and the other teams are starting to realise that, and when a team comes at you like that, you have to fight back, and I’m questioning whether all of us collectively, can fight back. Some of us are fighting back, but we can’t allow three or four people to carry the workload of ten other players. That’s not going to get it done,” Arsego added.
The Slingers’ shooting was abysmal – only 28% (18/65) from field goal range, 18% (3/17) from three-point range and 56% (19/34) from the charity stripe.
The Slingers are now averaging 61.6 points in their last five games.
Watching his team miss even easy baskets left Arsego shaking his head on the sidelines at the BritAma Arena.
“What’s difficult about making a layup? At quarter time, if we had made those baskets, we would have been four points up and our mindsets would have been totally different. The issue is, we cannot maintain our consistency. We had to fight in the second quarter to hang in there.
“We’re finding this situation, this is what I believe is compounding our problems: We work very hard, we might bag an open shot, we miss it. We come down the next time, we defend, we do a good job, we go back the next time, we get a layup, we miss it. We come down, they score, they might score three out of it. We go down the next time, we turn it over, and they come back and score. We go down, we make a bad pass, they get the ball and come down and score,” described Arsego.
“So instead of having points on the table that will boost your position, you don’t get it, and in the next possession you turn it over, that’s the end of it, we’re down another six or eight points. We have not been able to continually put scoreboard pressure on teams,” added Arsego.
The Slingers are scheduled to play the Thailand Tigers in their next game on Thursday, December 17th, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Game time is 8pm.
Marcus Ng had 7 points for the Slingers. He was 3 of 11 (27%) from field goal range and 0 of 2 from the 3-point arc. (Photo 2 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Steven Khoo goes up for two against Nakiea Miller (Satria Muda, #43). Steven had 8:55 minutes of game time. (Photo 3 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Desmond Oh contributed 4 points in a 16-minute appearance. (Photo 4 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Hong Wei Jian started the game for the Slingers and had 7 points on the night in a 20-minute performance. (Photo 5 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Wong Wei Long continues to struggle from 3-point range, going 1 of 4. He was also 1 of 6 from field goal range and finished the night with 4 points. (Photo 6 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
Al Vergara played 30 minutes in the game but had only 3 points on the night. He was 1 of 14 from field goal range and missed all three of his 3-point attempts. (Photo 7 © Les Tan/Red Hoops)
Kyle Jeffers had a game-high 21 points despite an ankle injury. Jeffers also pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds. (Photo 8 © Les Tan/Red Hoops)
Nothing would go in for Michael LeBlanc from two- and three-point range on the night. He finished with 6 points from the charity stripe. (Photo 9 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
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Slingers will go further down to 6th spot, if they rely only to their imports.
Les,Jan any article for Patriots vs Baracudas?
Well said Coach Arsego… Now what happens & what needs to be done to fix the problems Coach?
I watched the game on TV. There’s not much screens set up for the shooters (the type that is set up for Reggie Miller).
And only Marcus is the one that moves constantly without the ball.
If the opposing imports can play KJ and MLB one-on-one defensively and does not require double teaming, then the Slingers waiting for the kick out do not have much free space to shoot.
When WWL, HWJ gets the ball they usually have their defenders on top of them already. And basically they have to create their own shot (of the dribble) instead of catch and shoot. They usually end up driving the lane and turning the ball over.
Perhaps the shooters (especially WWL) should be using the screens BEFORE getting the ball instead of AFTER getting the ball.
Mart: Interesting analogy… Thanks for your point of view..
Slingers looks like young version of korean national team, flat footed, they get very good shots from outside or second chance shot,but cannot slash painted lane.
@Hanoi09,
South Koreans can slash into the painted lane. When they drive they can score or pass to an open teammate.
And they convert a lot of 3-point attempts.
mart-no, it was known since the time of Tonichi Yturri,Samboy Lim, etc, extended to kenneth duremdes and Jeff Cariaso. Its only JAPAN national team have the ability to slash, there is one japanese/american there that moves like Kenneth Duremdes
Koreans at strict shooters from outside as well Chinese, both they got from outside + rebound inside, open court basket,they can run.
PHILIPINES to beat KOREANS,CHINA AND IRAN is to play like college ball that can RUN and use 3 GUARDS either 2 slasher 1 3pts shooter or 1 slasher 2 3pts shooter, and Jamal Sampson + Jappet Aguilar will be inside, Japet Aguilar can ralso run the court and slash painted lane,but japet need to improve his shooting skills.
Many times Philipine team fail is that, 1 example,sending Miller, slow, we cannot beat this tall guy in half court, I will not send even arwind santos, he dont have good shooting ability
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL TEAM can only BEAT Korea,China and Iran, it they follow the TEAM PLAY of PHOENIX SUNS in early 90s, when they use 3 GUARD-MAJERLE,AINGE-KEVIN JOHNSON, they can run and shoot the ball.
To give me a First Five it should be the likes of JIMMY ALAPAG/JOHN ARRIGO/HONTIVEROS + PUT 1 Legitimate Center + Forward inside that can shoot the ball, and Philipine team will be seen again in Olympics
@hanoi09,
I know that Japanese American , Michael dorsey/Takahashi. He did not give RP team any headaches.
I beg to disagree on Koreans not able to slash. Yes, they rely on their 3-point shots. But they can slash to the basket because the opposing defense is wary of their outside shooting.
C’mon, when Koreans slash they know what to do with the basketball. Kick out or drop pass.
RP team to use Phoenix Suns play? 3-guard rotation?
Well they cannot obviously score fastbreaks if they cannot get the defnsive rebounds.
I don’t know why a lot of people here seem to favor John Arigo. I’ve seen him play. He’s not as explosive as other Pinoy guards.
2007 FIBA-Asia team has a similar lineup that you’re talking about and they got eliminated early.
The height of Arrigo 6’4 playing guard is best suited to international competitions,2001-2003 his best years ,unfortunately he was not selected during 2002 Philipine team to asian games.
2007 Fiba-NO, only Jimmy Alapag was there. Big guys like Mick Penissi and Taulava noimpact,lack of big guy
2007 FIBA – I do believe Hontiveros was there. James Yap, RenRen ritualo – they’re more suited for international play than Arigo as they can shoot the lights out from the perimeter.
For 2002 Asian games – Hontiveros, Castillo, Cariaso, Racela…these players are the reasons why Arigo is not part of that team. Arigo’s height (6’4 for a guard) is ideal for international play but Hontiveros and Castillo are better shooters.
Yes, Philippines can use a Run and Gun, 3-guard offense. But you can’t run unless you get the defensive rebound. And even when they rebound, the good teams have great transition defense. You cannot always run and gun.
And Phoenix never won the NBA title during those years….they went only to the NBA finals only once. Their Run and Gun offense is not good enough.
For the Slingers, Pathman has a decent perimeter shot. Maybe he should get a lot more time.
Also, Arigo is a beanpole guard, that s why he suffered a lot of injuries. Besides, he has no lateral defense, he has a weak heel and can easiy pushed around.No wonder he played for NCAA Division 2 in US.Hes a joker, hes not good for national team..Least, he can play in ABL.By the way hes a good trash talker..IF hes that good, why PBA did not bother to pursue and get him.I dont know his whereabouts now…KOREA has a good guards who can slash and kick out the ball,actually it is their patented move and can be anticipated..
Arigo is more of a “Scorer” rather than a “shooter”.
on Korea’s patented move….yes, their plays can be anticipated but unfortunately cannot be completely shut down.
The thing is: Defense-Offense
Same goes to Taller-Small.
If your having height advantage but cannot score, on other hand if your smaller but can shoot the ball and score?
Good defense but if you cannot converet and score on your offense.
Filipinos face difficulty to guard or to score with Taller chinese,Jordanian around they cannot beat them inside.
Filipinos need to develop outside shooting, can run the ball and use quickness. Chinese,koreans are tall and they are good shooters and they can run the court. The type of Willie miller is not effective for international games.
Arigo commit couple of injuries now, and hes back in US for good. He is not outstanding palyer,but he will be suited for any international competitions.
Yes, Suns lost to Bulls.
Slinger pathman is flat footed, you pass the ball to him if his open to shoot the ball,but cannot make by his own way move to score
John Arrigo played college for Spartans and Osprys.
While in PBA he average 80% from free throw shooter. He just made an impact with “in your face” monstrous dunk in front of Marlou Aquino and Joey Mente
I know Pathman is flat footed and of course cannot dribble to the hoop. But he “seems” (just my opinion) to be more relaxed than the rest of the local Slingers.
And he seems to have a decent touch from midrange. But of course, it all depends on the plays they employ.
pathman is not relax, its just he surprise to receive the ball free, and he shoot.nothing else
That’s what you want from Pathman when he’s free, just shoot – and he usually makes it – and nothing else (like taking too long to decide and team gets called for shot clock or 3-second violation).
If you say he’s surprised, I can say great composure for a surprised player to make his shots.
as a big man,nothing else can do than to shoot,perhaps running and dribling for one court to another.
Dribbling from one court to another is best left to the guards.
Slingers being rust.
I just like their masscots… oops, the dancers as well,more entertainment…