LOCALS MUST STEP UP FOR PH PATRIOTS

By JONAS TERRADO, Manila Bulletin Unless the local players produce consistent games, the Philippine Patriots may encounter a hard time retaining their AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League crown. The Patriots are set to face either the Chang Thailand Slammers or the Singapore Slingers in a best-of-three finals affair, and assistant coaches Bogs Adornado and Glenn Capacio don’t want their locals to play just back-up roles for their imports Gabe Freeman and Steve Thomas.