Round 15 of Regular Season

John Fields

Coincidentally all hosts won their games. Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

ASEAN League round 15 caused change at the leadership position. Fifth defeat of league's leader Vietnamese Saigon Heat (10-5) against fifth ranked Singapore Singapore Slingers (8-6) 87-80 was the most important game of the last round. It ended at the same time the four-game winning streak of Saigon Heat. It was a good game for American power forward John Fields (205-88, college: Tennessee) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 21 rebounds. His fellow American import guard Xavier Alexander (198-88, college: S.Nazarene) contributed with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. American-Puerto Rican point guard TreVon Hughes (185-87, college: Wisconsin) answered with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals for Saigon Heat. Singapore Slingers maintains fifth place with 8-6 record. Saigon Heat at the other side dropped to the second position with five games lost. They share it with Formosa D.. They were replaced at the leadership position by SM Beermen. Saigon Heat will play next round against strong Hong Kong ELL trying to make it back to the top of the standings. Singapore Slingers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game.
The game had a very big importance for third-ranked Filipino SM Beermen as it allowed them to take a leadership position. SM Beermen defeated 4th placed Hong Kong Hong Kong ELL in Manila 88-76. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Hong Kong ELL. It was a great evening for American-Puerto Rican center Peter Ramos (222-85) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 18 points, 19 rebounds and 6 assists. Renaldo Balkman helped adding 20 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists. SM Beermen's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was American-Dominican guard ODarien Bassett (189-86, college: Troy) with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. As mentioned above they took over a top position. Hong Kong ELL at the other side keeps the fourth place with eight games lost. Hong Kong ELL will play next round against strong Saigon Heat trying to get back on the winning streak. SM Beermen will try to continue on its current victory against tenth ranked Zhuhai on the road.
The game between seventh ranked Indonesian CLS Knights (7-7) and 10th ranked Chinese Zhuhai (1-13) in Surabaya on Saturday ended with biggest points difference. CLS Knights outscored guests from 132-104. American players dominated the game. It was a quality performance for Darryl Watkins who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 26 points, 18 rebounds and 6 assists. Michael Taylor came up with 32 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists for Zhuhai in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. CLS Knights have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain seventh place with 7-7 record. Zhuhai lost third consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 13 games lost. CLS Knights will meet Westports MD (#8) in the next round. Zhuhai will play against the league's leader SM Beermen where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.