Freeman soars as Patriots take 1-0 lead against Satria Muda in ABL finals
Contributed by Red Hoops reader Jonathan Chuongco
Satria Muda’s Alex Hartman lays up for two. Hartman struggled, scoring only 12 points on 4-of-15 field-goal shooting. (Photo 1 © Jonathan Chuongco)
Pasig, Philippines, Friday, February 13, 2010 – Gabe Freeman roared out of the gates as he led the Philippine Patriots to a 78-68 victory over Satria Muda BritAma in the finals of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). The victory gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Freeman scored 39 points, accumulating half of the Patriots score while getting 14 rebounds. Jason Dixon added 13 points and 17 rebounds to supplement Freeman’s efforts. Rob Wainwright added 9 points and Warren Ybanez contributed 5 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists to spearhead the Patriots offense.
Nakiea Miller led Satria Muda with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Alex Hartman struggled with only 12 points on 4-15 field-goal shooting. Wuysang added 11 points and Ronny Gunawan added 10 points to lead the production of the Indonesian locals.
It was a tight first quarter, as the Patriots took a 23-19 lead with Freeman scoring from all corners of the court. It seemed the Patriots would slowly pull away as they ended half-time leading 48-41.
But instead of running away with the game, the Patriots saw Satria Muda BritAma charge back with a 15-2 run during the first six minutes of the third quarter with Rony Gunawan leading the comeback to go ahead 56-50.
The Patriots fought back though and took a 60-58 lead at the end of the third quarter.
And it was all Patriots during the crucial fourth quarter, as they put on a 12-2 run. Rob Wainwright’s three pointer with 1:09 left put the dagger into Satria Muda, giving the Patriots a 78-67 lead.
Although the Patriots won the game, Coach Louie Alas was not satisfied with the performance during the third quarter. Alas told Red Hoops: “ The team was too relaxed and too complacent.” He added that he will remind the boys of that performance and does not want that to happen again.
Meanwhile for the Indonesian-based club, Gabe Freeman was certainly top of mind.
“We must limit Freeman’s production next game,” said Satria Muda coach Fictor Roring.
As for Gunawan’s performance, Roring said that he plans to use Gunawan more in the next game and might even start him, as he has the height advantage that he can use on the offensive end.
Expect adjustments for Alex Hartman as well. Coach Roring said he wanted Hartman, who took a lot of outside shots in this game, to attack the basket more.
Satria Muda will probably have to make adjustments on the rebounding and three point shooting as well, as they were outrebounded by the Patriots 56-40 and shot only 15% from beyond the arc compared to the Patriots’ 29%.
Despite the win, Coach Alas does not think the series will be easy, as he believes it will be a very tough game from now on as he acknowledges the toughness of Satria Muda.
Game 2 will be held at the Fil Oil Flying V Arena in San Juan, Manila, on February 17, 2010, 8pm.
The Patriots have now won four times this season against Satria Muda, including a 3-0 sweep during the regular season.
Philippine Patriots Game Box Score
| # | Name | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | TR | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| total | 78 | 30/77 | 9/31 | 9/15 | 21 | 32 | 53 | 18 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 19 | 200 | |
| 0 | *John Paul Alcaraz | 2 | 0/6 | 0/3 | 2/2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| 3 | *Warren Ybanez | 5 | 2/6 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 28 |
| 4 | Christian Coronel | 0 | 0/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 5 | Robert Wainwright | 9 | 3/7 | 2/6 | 1/2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| 8 | Val Acuna | 0 | 0/3 | 0/3 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Elmer Espiritu | 2 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 2/2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 16 | *Jerwin Gaco | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
| 21 | Siverino Jr. Baclao | 0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 25 | *Gabriel Freeman | 39 | 16/28 | 4/11 | 3/6 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 38 |
| 34 | Erwin Romme Sta. Maria | 8 | 3/9 | 2/5 | 0/0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| 42 | *Jason Dixon | 13 | 6/15 | 0/0 | 1/3 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 38 |
Satria Muda BritAma Game Box Score
| # | Name | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | OR | DR | TR | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | MIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| total | 68 | 26/63 | 4/25 | 12/20 | 9 | 27 | 36 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 15 | 200 | |
| 5 | Faisal Achmad Julius | 3 | 0/2 | 0/2 | 3/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 6 | Wendha Wijaya | 1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | *Amin Prihantono | 0 | 0/4 | 0/4 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 |
| 8 | *Alexander Gordon Hartman | 12 | 4/15 | 2/7 | 2/4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 38 |
| 9 | *Youbel Sondakh | 9 | 4/7 | 0/1 | 1/3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 |
| 13 | Rony Gunawan | 10 | 5/7 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 27 |
| 14 | Welyanson Situmorang | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 18 | *Mario Wuysang | 11 | 4/12 | 1/8 | 2/4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 33 |
| 43 | *Nakiea Miller | 22 | 9/15 | 1/2 | 3/4 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 40 |
Nakiea Miller goes for two. Miller led Satria Muda with 22 points and 10 rebounds. (Photo 2 © Jonathan Chuongco)
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After the game, Lia Lim (ABL) asked coach Louie Alas about the team’s performance, and he said that “they could’ve done better.”
Hartman is intimidated by Freeman’s defense. he was very hesitant in attacking the basket so he’d just settle for jumpers or drive-and-kick-out.
great job by Gunawan & Wuysang. both very impressive for SMB.
I think Hartman got a little bit of everything. I just noticed that Freeman made Hartman work on defense more which took off some of his scoring capabilities.
I expect some defensive traps set-up for Freeman to give up the ball so that Patriots locals should step up to the plate in game 2.
Kudos to Gunawan for playing well off the bench. I think he scored in double figures.
Hartman can run and take 3,but his weakness he dont have a good range shots
39 points of Freeman may also consider as setback. local patriots players will only depend to him next game, and if freeman get cold,patriots will be in trouble.
It’s because Freeman is on fire and ofcourse you’ve got to give up the ball a little bit and just feed him. In case he gets cold then there’ll be another option/player and give the play to him. There are other players who can step up just incase the he isn’t doing very well. Still he can make some good defense and grab some boards. Also, local players from the Patriots know the capabilities of their imports they know that their imports can take over and carry the team. Local players just need to support their imports and do their roles. They can always give some extra help when they’re needed.
If freeman lost his fuel, i see its just mirza more as offensive player that can score,but hes a bench warmer. Good that sta maria score 8pts,he looks also a banger than a scorer.
Miller has a quick first step move for Dixon on high, too strong for wainright on low post area, need to have switch, baclao should take miller on high,and dixon should let gunawan to take shots from outside
Mirza? he hasn’t done much in the ABL except play garbage time minutes when the game is already over.
what Alas does when one of the imports is in foul trouble, he either puts in a big defender like Baclao or shooters like Acuna or Wainright. i’ve seen every televised game of the Patriots and sad to say, Mirza has been sparingly used.
I dont know any patriots player til they play against slingers here in SIS, during warm ups i just saw how mirza moves that makes more impressing,but play few minutes in that game. Im not sure if he is a prolific scorer during uaap
Ababou (Smart Gilas) was UST’s main offensive weapon, he can play multiple positions. Mirza often helped him with the scoring load playing at PF. he’s 6’5, that’s tall enough to play PF in the UAAP… but that’s too short for the ABL especially with the presence of more physical imports inside so he plays as a spot-up shooter or a slasher outside.
Gaco is 6’4 but his game is built on banging bodies and crashing the boards so he gets more minutes since his role is perfect for a team that can rely on imports and guards for scoring.
this will end as 3-0 for patriots.
The only time RP lose to Indo was in 2008 when they force to play all filipinos,due to Ekwe consider as import did not allow to play by FIBA asia general.
Regarding to vietnamese participation, im not sure if foreign asian will allow to play as an imports, will then vietnam team will hire either filipinos or chinese player,since majority vietnamese athletes are being train in china.
@hanoi, rp didnt play all filipino in 2008 they have mike le blanc as an import
@ hanoi… you suck with your english man… lol
Le Blanc came as last minute substitution.
During the start of ABL it was proposed that FIBA asia will chair the technical committee,but it were strongly opposed by patriots team owner because of unforgetable exp last 2008
@hanoi.. late substitution or not they still didnt play all-filipino as what your claiming.
@jake.. haha.. i think everybody here knows how hanoi use his own brand of uhm.. english?.. or whatever he calls it.. he already become the resident clown of this site..lol
In fairness to Hanoi, I fully understand his point of view.
As far as LeBlanc when he played for Harbour Centre in 2008, I think he’s not a substitute. He’s more of a late or recruited at the last minute for the SEABA champions cup, and supposed to be in tandem with Sam Ekwe.
2009 SEA games, basketball is not being accomodated in laos.. Vietnam & Thailand give financial support,how the big football stadium and fb games held and not basketball, should RP POC need to do something?
How will Vietnam send a team for ABL? maybe no way.
For Vietnam to field a team, it is expected that their roster will be very similar to Brunei’s. Two non-ASEAN import, three Filipinos, and one Vietnamese-American or Vietnamese with foreign ancestry.
Vietnam also has a basketball team that we rarely see in SEA Games, but they don’t have a very sound program, or should I say very inconsistent. They hosted basketball when the SEA Games was held there, so having a team from Vietnam is a very good possibility, and it will spark interest to the sport in that country.
None in vietnam that maybe willing to handle or own a basketball team by local private entity.
Vietnam Basketball federation always hired filipino coaches and having a grassroots programs. In 2003 vietnam host the 23rd sea games and rp won gold medal,omanzie rodriguez was there.
Vietnam beats brunei by huge margin.
Other possibility is, vietnam entry will be owned by foreign entity, im not sure if same with thailand tigers,where owners are not local.
@Hanoi. It is a possiblity that a team from Vietnam will be owned by a non-Vietnamese national. Similar to the Slingers. However, it certainly remains to be seen.
It is also not surprising that a team from Vietnam will hire Filipino or foreign coaches.
As far as results of the games once they (Vietnamese team) join the ABL, it won’t be the same type of results we should be expecting from them since imports will be fielded and part of their team, which creates some sort of balance and greater opportunity to compete.
Yes, they will lose some games, but it’s not going to be the same margin as watching the SEA Games, or SEABA championships (30, 40, or 50 point wins) were it’s at a national team level. Again, it’s the presence of the imports that made it more competetive.
Where did you get the news that no Vietnamese entity wants to set up an ABL team? No one’s interested?
If Vietnam’s local players have the height, I think they will be very competitive in few years.
Aren’t they getting some knowledge/technology transfer from Sports powerhouse China? – one reason they zoomed into second place in the last SEA Games(??)
most vietnamese athletes are being trained in china,(not basketball player),for several sea games they transform to become one of powerhouse in the regions,considering the fact that among SEA, vietnamese athletes receives the lowest prices money incentives to its medalist,aside from myanmar.
Vietnamese,if not the most, but one of the craziest football fans in the world..