The Singapore Slingers must have done Frank Arsego proud as they depended on effort, grit, and determination to edge out the Thailand Tigers.

By Vincent Lai

Singapore battled back from a ten-point deficit early in the third as Michael LeBlanc drove down the baseline with eleven seconds left in the game to release a jumper that gave the Slingers the lead for the first time since the early part of the second quarter.

Kyle Jeffers' rebound with the clock winding down sealed the Tigers' fate as the Slingers won for the first time in four games, exacting revenge for a three-point loss at the Singapore Indoor Stadium ten days earlier.

Jeffers led the Slingers with 20 points and 13 rebounds in the game, with Marcus Ng and LeBlanc both chipping in 15.

Piyapong "Boy" Piroon was the Tigers' top scorer with nineteen points, with Ratdech Kruatiwa adding 12 from the bench.

"Honestly, I'm relieved," Arsego told ESPNSTAR.com after the game. "I'm relieved we found our swagger."

"We had to come back with our fight. The things that we were so proud of at the beginning of the season."

And fight the Slingers did, clawing their way back into the game on a horrendous 35% shot percentage; they forced turnovers, stole the ball, blocked shots and generally forced the Tigers to record a similar field goal percentage (41%), before grabbing key baskets down the stretch in a 9-2 run in the fourth quarter to turn the game on its head late.

"And we were finding it hard, finding it real hard," added the Slingers' coach. "And today, right at the end, we really found the players that wanted it, more than [The Tigers] wanted it. We outlasted them."

"That's the difference, in a tight competition, that's the difference. To be 6-4 after ten games, we've got something to work with now."

"I'm very proud of them."

Singapore had its role players to thank as they played key minutes in the fourth quarter. Desmond Oh and Pathman Matialakan may have not lit up the scoresheet, but their perimeter and post defence respectively troubled a surprisingly offence anemic Tigers' team, which failed to reproduce their heroics of ten days ago.

"I just put in a hundred percent," stated Oh after the game. "I do what I can for the team."

"My strength is in defence, and I know I have to lock down the opposing players and give them as much pressure as possible."

Pathman even specifically prepared for the imposing physique of one Ikenna Nwankwo.

"I saw videos of the last game, how I was defending him and I think I was a bit too upright," said the Singapore backup forward. "I wasn't really on a defensive stance, because I'm not as strong as him, obviously."

"So I had to make up the difference with my quickness and intelligence. Coach had a gameplan for me and I stuck with it, and it worked in the end."

"Our team defence was very good today and that gave us the win. Our team defence."

The Slingers also had a strong performance from Marcus Ng, as the small forward fearlessly slashed to rim throughout the entire game while appearing out of nowhere to grab nine rebounds in the paint full of giants.

But the night belonged to Kyle Jeffers who, along with his double-double, earned 13 free-throws, sinking eight of them. And boy did the Slingers need every single one of them. The center also played strong defence on the strong Tigers' bigs of Nwankwo and Chaz Briggs, and who could forget the final of his 13 rebounds that ended Thailand's desperate attempt to even the score.

"We got certain players on the roster, their job is to deliver, and tonight they delivered," concluded Arsego. "With the help of our local boys and teamwork, and just our desire."

"That's what happens. These guys, they put in their best for us, Al with the free-throws, Mike with the shot, just to put the pressure on."

"And the rebound at the end [by Jeffers]? Sensational, just sensational."

Key Player

Kyle Jeffers put up 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks to end the Slingers' three-game slide.

Key Moment

Happened after the game. Slingers' veteran Pathman Matialakan proposed to his girlfriend after the game (it's a good thing they won). Here's what the forward had to say about the moment:

"I think it was one of my friend who told me 'it would be a good idea after the game, why don't you get down on your knees and propose to your girlfriend, in front of everyone, as I think it would be memorable.' I didn't want to do it privately, over dinner or at home. I wanted it to be special. So I think I got what I wanted. Thank god she said yes!"

Key Number

19: The number of offensive rebounds the Slingers had in the game. And they needed every single one of them to create extra opportunities on offence just to beat the Tigers by three points.

View from the press row

Slingers shooting guard Hong Wei Jian looked real small against the likes of Piroon and Kruatiwa. The high-flyer was grounded as the Tigers repeatedly posted him up, taking advantage of a size and strength difference to score in the paint. Hong also struggled to score from close range, as he was repeatedly met by a big below the basket. Kudos to him for staying continually aggressive in his 23 minutes on the court, despite being slammed to the ground repeatedly after every take-off.