MANILA—The Philippine Patriots exacted vengeance over the Singapore Slingers as they pulled off a devastating 70-53 triumph in the 1st ASEAN Basketball League Invitational Tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Elmer Espiritu keyed a fourth quarter run by the Patriots that suddenly turned the game into a lopsided affair the rest of the way.

It was a fitting vengeance for the Filipinos, who lost to the Singaporeans, 74-69, in their first meeting barely three weeks ago at the Singapore Indoor Arena.

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With the victory, the Patriots of co-owner Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre and ABC-5 top honcho Tony Boy Cojuangco, are now 3-1, just a game away from Singapore’s 4-1 card.

They will seek a share of the lead when they clash against the Kuala Lumpur Dragons next week in Malaysia.

The leech-like guarding of the Patriots rattled the Slingers as they surged to an early 22-8 lead in the first period. They held the Singaporeans to only four points in the first five minutes of the match.

After stretching the gap to 18, all the Slingers could do was reduce it to only eight, 50-42, thanks to import Michael LeBlanc’s three straight triples early in the pivotal period.