MANILA, Philippines — The AirAsia Philippine Patriots try to get back on the winning track this Saturday when they face the Indonesia Warriors and a former import at the San Juan gym.

Center Steve Thomas will try to lead the Warriors to an upset victory against his former team in an AirAsia ASEAN Basketball League game that will start at 4 p.m.

Thomas, who was also a former import of Air21 (now-Barako Bull) in the 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference, played nine games in the 2010-11 season and his consistent double-double efforts were key in the Patriots making the finals for the second straight time.

The bald-headed 6-foot-9 cager is expected to go head-to-head with counterpart Nakiea Miller as both teams try to rebound from losses on Saturday.

Despite a gallant fourth quarter comeback, the Patriots fell to the San Miguel Beermen, 78-70, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City while the Warriors suffered a home loss against the Westports Malaysia Dragons, 93- 80, in Jakarta.

Aside from Thomas, the Patriots will have to watch out for the Warriors' other American import in big man Jonathan Smith, former Adamson guard Jerick Canada and Mario Wuysang, last season's Most Valuable Player.

Westports Malaysia, coached by Ariel Vanguardia and led by former Talk ’N Text import Tiras Wade, burly big man Brian Williams and Filipino reinforcements Nic Belasco, Patrick Cabahug and Chris Pacana, are leading the league with a perfect 2-0 slate.

The Patriots and the Warriors are locked in a five-way tie for second to sixth places with San Miguel, Singapore Slingers and expansion team Bangkok Cobras.

The defending champion Chang Thailand Slammers are surprisingly in seventh at 1-2 after a stunning 71-67 loss to the Cobras on Saturday while the Saigon Heat are last at 0-1.