|
STO. DOMINGO, Ilocos Sur: Cebu and host Ilocos Sur
set the stage for a championship showdown in the northern leg of the
Liga Pilipinas Tour by beating separate semifinal rivals at the
People’s Coliseum here.
The Niños of Cebu (3-1)
clobbered the Taguig Batang Global, 117-94, while the Bravehearts of
Ilocos (3-1) edged the Quezon Red Oilers, 81-79.
Over at the Xavier University Gym
in Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian and Baguio pulled off stirring upsets to
arrange a title clash in the southern leg.
The Explorers of Pagadian, led by
Mark Yee, shocked host and previously unbeaten Misamis Oriental,
63-59, while the Victory of Baguio stunned the Trace Laguna
Stallions, 104-95.
Ex-pro Stephen Padilla led Cebu
with 24 points, including six 3-point shots. Bruce Dacia added 19
and Ian Saladaga contributed 16 points.
The Niños broke away in the
second quarter after trailing, 22-26, at the end of the first
period. They outscored the Batang Global, 31-19, in the final canto.
In the other game, Gilbert
Malabanan scored 19 points, including the game winner just before
time expired, to lift the Bravehearts past the Red Oilers and into
the title match.
The winner of the final will be
awarded 10 points going to the playoffs. Five points will go to the
runner-up, and three points to the third placer.
|
