Facing off against former import Justin Howard and the powerful Chongson Kung Fu team from China for the first time this season in Singapore, the Slingers captured an 89-86 victory at OCBC Arena. The win was the Slingers’ third consecutive and the Slingers 7th win in their last 9 games, while for the visiting Chong Son squad they drop their third straight game.

Slingers world Import Chris Charles was a force in the paint, racking up 32 points, 19 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks in the victory. He attacked relentlessly in the paint all game long, using his length and mobility to good effect.

Former Slingers import Justin Howard scored 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in his return to the OCBC Arena. However with Charles and his fellow world import Xavier Alexander filling up the stats sheet, it was the Slingers that were able to hang on and grab a tough 89-86 win. 

The X-Man (Alexander) also finished with 32 points and added 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Delvin Goh 10pts & 4rebs & Ng Han Bin 8pts & 4rebs where also factors in what was a good team win for the Slingers.

Chong Son Kung Fu would lead at halftime 49-45, led by excellent shooting from Luo Yongxuan en route to 13 points. But Singapore would flip the script in the third quarter, limiting the China-based squad to only 11 points. 

The Slingers took a 7 point lead, 67-60 in to the final quarter.A basket and free from Charles at the 9:01 mark gave Singapore it’s biggest lead of the game at 10 points. But instead of folding, Chong Son would make one final run led by World Import Anthony Tucker. He fired five triples in the fourth quarter, almost singlehandedly keeping his team in the battle. But every Tucker triple in the clutch was answered by Charles in the paint. 

Tuckers triple with 2:47 would get Chongson to within three points, 83-80, before Charles responded with a layup.Tucker’s final triple was at the 12 second mark, would make it a 1 point game 87-86. But a heads-up play from the Slingers on an out of bounds play would lead to a wide open Leon Kwek layup, sealing the Slingers victory.Singapore Slingers 

Stats Leaders:

Chris Charles: 32pts, 19rebs & 2 blocks

Xavier Alexander: 32pts, 8rebs & 7 assists

Delvin Goh: 10pts, 4rebs & 2 steals

Ng Han Bin: 8pts, 3rebs & 2 assists

The Slingers win pushes their record to 10-7, breathing down Chong Son Kung Fu’s neck in 5th place in a tightening ABL Playoffs race. Tonights win also clinched a playoff berth for the Slinger with 3 regular season games still to play .The Slingers will play their final regular season home game next Sunday against CLS Knights from Indonesia before going on the road to play the Formosa Dreamers in Taiwan and Saigon Heat in Saigon to finish out their regular season.