58: 76   

Friday 1st March 2013, 1900hrs local tip-off, Tan Binh Stadium, Vietnam.

The Saigon Heat had difficulties controlling Chris Charles without their big man David Palmer, who was forced to sit out of this game from an injury. As a result, the Chang Thailand Slammers came to Tan Binh Stadium and defeated the home team 76-58.

Charles took full advantage in the paint as the Heat were undersized. Charles recorded his seventh double-double as he scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Froilan Baguion also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists. Wutipong Dasom chipped in with 16 points. 

The Slammers started the game aggressively with a 13-0 run capped off by a basket from Dasom and a tip-in from Charles. The Heat were not able to score in the first 4 minutes of the game. Dior Lowhorn tried to carry his team in the first quarter and scored the first 16 points for the Heat. A lay-up from Minh Trieu at the end of the first quarter trimmed the Slammers' lead 21-18.

The Heat were able to get within two points early in the second quarter after Lowhorn hit a three-point shot. Baguion answered with two shots from behind the arc which stretched the Slammers’ lead to 35-28 with 3:05 left before halftime. 

It was too much Charles for the Heat in the fourth quarter. Without Palmer under the Heat rim, Charles dominated the paint. A tip-in and lay-up from Charles started an 8-0 run which was capped off by a dunk from Michael Earl to help the Slammers baloon their lead to 64-47 with 7:28 left in the game. Then Charles made a left handed lay-up and tabbed in a pass from Baguion to give the Slammers their biggest lead in the game at 74-53 with 2:17 left. 

"It was a great win for us especially playing in a very tough environment. The fans in Saigon are the best basketball fans in the world," said Slammers' head coach Joe Bryant after the game. 

Apart from Lowhorn, the other Heat players were not able to reach double-digits in scoring. Lowhorn finished the game with 34 points and 7 rebounds. Phillip Morrison added 7 points and Larry Tieu chipped in with 6 points. 

With this win the Slammers ended their three-game losing streak. They will travel to Jakarta, Indonesia to take on the defending champions the Indonesia Warriors on Wednesday March 6th at Tennis Indoor Senayan for the 1900hrs local/2000hrs HKT tip-off. 

That game will be available via the ABL Livestream, a direct link will appear on http://www.ASEANBasketballLeague.com/ shortly before tip-off time. Highlights and full game footage of both teams can be found on the ABL YouTube channel at http://YouTube.com/ABL. 

Saigon Heat: Lowhorn - 34, Morrison - 7, Tieu - 6, Trieu - 4, Reyes - 4, Dehesa -3.

Chang Thailand Slammers: Charles - 22, Baguion - 16, Dasom - 16, Lertlaaokul - 8, Earl - 4, Sekteera - 3, Klahan - 3, Fernandez - 2, Apiromvilaichai - 2.