Basketball
Miller leads ABL-best Patriots past Cobras
Nakiea Miller played his best game thus far this season in leading the AirAsia Philippine Patriots to an 84-78 decision over the Bangkok Cobras in Wednesday night’s ASEAN Basketball League road game in Thailand.
Miller had 25 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and swatted nine shots for the Patriots, who remained ahead in the team standings with a 13-2 record.
Anthony Johnson had 22 points while Bogs Raymundo led the locals with 12 points as the Patriots clinched at least a playoff for a Final Four berth.
Bangkok led, 24-18, after the first quarter, then lost it in the second quarter behind AirAsia Philippines’ 25-13 advantage in the second.
Five players scored in double figures for the Cobras with Filipino imports Marvin Cruz and Jai Reyes adding 17 and 10 points each. But the Cobras could not pull an upset dropping to a 5-9 win-loss card.
The Patriots increased their lead with the San Miguel Beermen (11-4) to two games going into their rematch on April 14. With the Beermen as the designated home team at the Ynares Sports Arena on that date, San Miguel goes for a season-series sweep over the Patriots.
