Seven games (for the defending champions Thailand Slammers anyway) into the 3rd season of the ASEAN Basketball League's and this writer can already see the writing on the wall. The entry of another team from the Philippines, in the form of the San Miguel Beermen, has pretty much sealed the deal for a title showdown with back-to-back finalists (and season one champs) AirAsia Philippine Patriots.
That's not a knock on the Slammers or the current standings leader, the Malaysia Dragons, but something that people are pretty much sold on from here on out. It's almost as predictable as the UAAP season has been the last few years, with everyone knowing that it's going to be Ateneo de Manila University and Far Eastern University slugging it out for the title year in and year out (or until the De La Salle alumni go back to their tried and tested winning formula of picking high school Fil-Ams from the West Coast).