ABL 2019-20: Preview Analysis of KL Dragons against Singapore Slingers

We finally return to action for the first time in ten days with our final regular season encounter against our long term rivals, the Singapore Slingers on the 6th of March 2020 at MABA Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

Both teams last faced each other on the 23rd of February at the OCBC Arena, Singapore. With a 77-68 victory, we achieved history by achieving a 100% regular season road record against the Slingers for the first time. 

We are on track to win our regular season series against the Slingers for the first time since 2014. Our current season record against the Slingers stands at 2-1. 

Currently, KL Dragons sit in 4th place with a 9-7 record and eye a move up to third with a victory over the Slingers. The Slingers are currently seventh with a 7-9 record and have lost their last two games.

The Slingers will come into our encounter with a notable player change, bringing in 27 year old 6 ft 9 American center, Jameel McKay.

McKay replaces Anthony McClain who suffered a foot injury. McClain leads the league in shots blocked with 3.7 per game and averaged 15.3 PPG and 13.3 RPG in 16 games this season.

Jameel McKay, an athletic rim protector joins the Slingers with extensive playing experience in Australia, the Philippines, Iceland, Japan, Lithuania, Vietnam and most recently Kosovo. McKay played college basketball for Iowa State and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player Of The Year in 2015. McKay’s best professional achievement was helping the Perth Wildcats clinch the 2016/2017 NBL Australia championship. 

Ahead of the game, assistant coach Izran Edika said, “We’re expecting to see a faster paced Slingers team with McKay in the line up. He’s a more athletic player than McClain and we believe Slingers will push the ball more through Xavier Alexander and Marcus Elliott.” 

Fans can purchase tickets now at kldragons.com/ticket or at the MABA Stadium on game day, subject to availability. In conjunction with International Women’s Day, all women will receive a 20% discount on tickets purchased on game day. 

Fans can also catch the game on Astro Arena and ASEAN Basketball League’s YouTube page.