Vanguardia issues Edwards challenge

Westports Malaysia Dragons coach Ariel Vanguardia has challenged Gavin Edwards to step up against the Chang Thailand Slammers.

The two teams last met at the beginning of the month with the Slammers coming away from Malaysia with a 77-65 win thanks to a huge effort from import Chris Charles.

Charles recorded 29 points and 27 rebounds for the Slammers while the man who was matched up against him - Edwards - was much less effective with just 13 points and six rebounds.

Edwards had been battling illness in the game but the Dragons import is now fully fit and Vanguardia expects him to give Charles a much tougher ride when the Slammers return to MABA Stadium on Saturday.

"We got humiliated by the Slammers the last time we played them at home and that can't happen again," Vanguardia told FOX Sports.

"We have to play with some pride and we cannot allow Charles to pulverise us again."

"I expect Gavin [Edwards] to step up to the challenge [on Saturday]. He had a flu that game versus Charles but now we will see how he battles him on equal strength."

The Dragons have blown hot and cold in the 2013 ABL season so far. After a 2-0 start, the Malaysians slipped to four straight defeats.

However, stunning home debuts from Sammy Monroe and Justin Melton - they combined for 51 points - lifted the Dragons to an 82-76 win over the San Miguel Beermen last weekend to snap a four game losing skid and leave them at 3-4. They currently sit just one spot in front of the rock-bottom Slammers (2-5) in the six-team ABL standings.

"This is our most important game thus far," Vanguardia said.

"This is the game that could get us back on track and back on the hunt for the semis."

The ABL regular season ends in May with the top four teams entering the Playoffs which is then decided by a best of five Semifinals and Finals series.

Source: Fox Sport