TAGUIG NIPS HOST LAGUNA, MEETS UNDEFEATED MISOR IN LEG FINALS

STANDINGS
Misamis Oriental Meteors 3-0

Forward Taguig 2-1

Trace-Laguna Stallions 1-2

MP Warriors of GenSan 0-3



TAGUIG NIPS HOST LAGUNA, MEETS UNDEFEATED MISOR IN LEG FINALS



LOS BANOS, LAGUNA – Burly center Ariel de Castro scored eight points in a crippling 11-0 windup to send Forward Taguig into the championship game of the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Laguna Leg at the expense of host Trace-Laguna Stallions, 77-74, at the Stallions’ Gym of Trace College Friday night.



De Castro, a product of the National University, capped his heroics with the go-ahead basket at the 16-second mark, 76-74. Alex Angeles then drove to the hoop and issued a drop pass only to see the ball slip from Ron Capati’s hands and return possession to Taguig.



Rex Leynes was quickly fouled and he split his charities for the final tally with six ticks to play. Lou Gatumbato then preserved the win by tapping the ball away from Jan Villaver into the waiting arms of Leynes who then dribbled the time away.



The Stallions of Atty. Erwin Genuino and Coach Nomar Isla were comfortably ahead entering the final two minutes, 74-64, thanks to back-to-back triples by RB Mangahas and a Ron Capati basket. That was the last to be heard from the hosts as they bungled four free throws and committed costly errors down the stretch.



Paul Reguera led Taguig with 15 points followed Gatumbato with 14. Mangahas paced the Stallions with 16 and Villaver added 15 markers.



Taguig of Mayor Freddie Tinga and Coach Bing Victoria will meet defending National Champion Misamis Oriental Meteors in the one-game finale. The Meteors of Gov. Oscar Moreno and Coach Jun Noel formalized their entry in the finals by punishing the MP Warriors of GenSan in the first game, 95-80.



The Meteors opened the contest with a 14-0 run and never looked back. The best that the Warriors of Manny Pacquiao and Coach Ramon Pido could do was to threaten via a Jomer Rubi basket in the third canto, 40-46.



Back-to-back field goals by Melvin Mamaclay and Rocky Clavel to start the final period erected the Meteors’ biggest advantage, 71-50. The win proved costly again as the Meteors’ rotation was further decimated with prolific guard Lyndon Gudez twisting his right knee in the second period. Gudez and opening day casualty Mark Moreno are doubtful for the championship game.



Patrick Cabahug topped the Meteors with 16 points while Clavel and Ramil Tagupa contributed 15 points each. Bob Cozy Ilanga led the Warriors with 17 points followed by Jasper Callo with 12.



The Meteors’ three-game sweep of the preliminaries earned them a two-point bonus as they moved into good position to barge into the upper half of the overall tour standings of the league backed by Smart, Accel, Molten, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).



Selected games from the Laguna Leg will be shown next week via Solar Sports from Wednesday to Saturday. Also, Liga Pilipinas Classics are seen daily on Viva Prime Channel. The league’s official website is at www.ligapilipinas.net.



How They Scored:



First Game



MISAMIS ORIENTAL (95) – Cabahug 16, Clavel 15, Tagupa 15, Saldua 14, Mamaclay 14, Daja 6, Barcellano 6, Gudez 5, Butel 2, Sanchez 1, Guiyab 1.



GENERAL SANTOS (80) – Ilanga 17, Callo 12, Recustodio 11, Cabatu 11, Sagad 9, Mendoza 7, Rubi 5, Tadena 4, Concha 2, Medalla 2, Gonzaga 0, Farochillen 0, Locsin 0, Coronado 0.



Period Scores: 28-12, 42-32, 67-50, 98-50.



Second Game



TAGUIG (79) – Reguera 15, Gatumbato 14, de Castro 13, Sta. Cruz 12, Moody 6, Walsham 6, Leynes 6, Marquez 4, de Guia 1.



LAGUNA (77) – Mangahas 16, Villaver 15, Misa 11, Capati 9, Bolocon 8, Estrada 7, Doruelo 3, Legaspi 3, Sanz 2, Angeles 0, Grijaldo 0.



Period Scores: 28-22, 33-37, 55-61, 77-74.