The Singapore Slingers look to firm up their spot in the Playoffs, as they take on the struggling Chong Son Kung Fu in Sunday ABL action.
Game time is set for 4:00PM at the OCBC Arena in Singapore.
After a shaky start to the season, the Slingers have picked it up as of late, winning two straight games and leap frogging Saigon in the standings. They are three games behind Chong Son Kung Fu, and a win here would get them to 10 wins earlier than the China-based squad.
The Slingers led for basically the entire contest in their 94-76 wina gainst the Heat. The Heat were without Moses Morgan, and they were unable to find enough offense to keep up with the Slingers. Singapore also utilized their size effectively, as they dominated the rebounding battle. They also shared the ball well, finishing with 26 assists.
Once again, Chris Charles proved to be a tower of power for the Slingers in their win over the Heat. He dominated his individual matchup against Maxie Esho, controlling the paint and also dealing damage with a game high 24 points and 29 rebounds.
After dominating the ABL to start the season, Chong Son has looked shaky, losing their last two games to drop to 4th in the standings. Their latest loss was on the road against Mono Vampire Basketball Club, as they fell to the 105-92 defeat.
Former Slingers import Justin Howard had a good scoring night against Mono Vampire for Chong Son Kung Fu, but it wasn’t enough to deliver a victory for Chong Son Kung Fu. His 28 points were a team high, but his rebounding wasn’t enough against the frontline of Mono Vampire. As a result, they were unable to stop their opponents from getting several shots in the paint en route to the loss.
The last time these two teams met was at the start of the ABL season, as Chong Son made a rousing ABL debut at the hands of last season’s finalists. Chong Son Kung Fu won 83-59 in the November 17 battle, led by Anthony Tucker’s 31 points and 10 rebounds. It’s a different story now, as the Slingers have made changes to their roster that has made them tougher. Can Chong Son pick up a highly needed win, or will the Slingers keep surging up?
A win here would definitely right the ship, as they brace for a very busy schedule heading into the Playoffs. With Justin Howard making his first appearance in the OCBC Arena on the opposite end, which team will emerge with the win?