MANILA – The Philippine Patriots failed to score their second straight win in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) after losing to the Singapore Slingers at the Singapore Indoor Stadium Sunday.

The Slingers beat the Patriots, 74-69, according to the tournament’s official website.

The Singaporean cagers held an early lead over the Filipinos and never looked back, despite a fourth quarter rally by the Filipino team. “The Philippine Patriots spurred a last minute effort in the fourth quarter and managed to score 27 points against Singapore Slingers’ 20, but it was still not enough to win the match,” read an ABL report.

The Patriots won their first game against Indonesia’s Satria Muda BritAma, 75-67, last October 10.

Meanwhile, Singapore Slingers managing director Bob Turner told the ABL that he was happy with his team’s performance as well as with the crowd turnout. He said he is confident that the league will be able to attract a crowd of 11,000 by the end of the year.

“The rematch against the Philippine Patriots could be the game to do it,” stated Turner. Sunday’s game between the Slingers and Patriots drew 2,212 spectators.