Our starting lineup was a strong, with Al Vergara, Kyle Jeffers, Marcus Ng, Hong Wei Jian, and Pathman Matilakan. Still, the SMART team led for a good 10 minutes and 12 points, before we took the lead from them, at 13-12. It was a very fast game, yet defensively, both were in tip-top condition.

Many a times Kyle Jeffers or Al Vergara would shoot, only to be blocked right before the ball sank into the basket, by tall and agile SMART players, CJ Giles and Japeth Aguilar. (Argh, how I miss Sam Harris and Eric Sandrin from the last season!)

The Slingers led for most of the game, but barely, until the last quarter, when the SMART team took back the lead with a quick succession of shots. With 50 seconds left on the clock, Slingers fans looked on in dismay as the Slingers lagged behind SMART by 3 points.

The Filipino fans were loud, enthusiastic, and passionate. I really wonder if we can ever get people in Singapore to cheer for the Slingers the way the Filipino fans cheered last night. At one point, the coach of the visiting team was arguing with the referee (very unclassy, the way it was done, btw) and the Filipino fans were just cheering him on! It was as if they were all of one heart, one mind. I felt like my gang were lone voices drowned in the thunderous applause and shouts of the opposition teams’ fans!

Towards the end of the game, I really envied the SMART team for having such passionate fans. They were on their feet, pumping fists into the air, and cheering their team on loudly with shouts and applause! We were playing on home ground, but again, it did not feel so.

So for the next game on 30 Sept 2009, Singapore Slingers vs. Barangay Ginebra Kings:

I’m giving away 10 pairs of tickets to anyone who comments on my next blog entry, courtesy of the Singapore Slingers themselves! You can also stand to win a dinner for 4, sponsored by Brewerkz! Watch out for it, people!

Updated: Click on this entry to win your tickets and dinner for 4!

P.S.: For better photos and more technical commentaries, please head over to my fave Slingers bloggers’ sites: Jason.sg and Airworm23! They are huge fans, and sit at the courtside (under the baskets, thereby risking their lives, haha) to take good shots!