Stallions, Bravehearts set up final duel

Cebu - Nigerian Sam Ekwe came up with another monster game scoring 22 points and grabbing 22 rebounds to power Trace Laguna Stallions over host MP Gensan Warriors, 70-61, while the Ilocos Sur Bravehearts squandered a big lead but recovered in time to beat the Edding Zanorte Babami, 74-60, and arrange a Gensan leg finals showdown in the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Conference II at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City.

Ekwe, the former two-time NCAA MVP, scored 10 of his game-high production in the third period.With the victory, Laguna swept all of their leg elimination assignments to earn an additional incentive points in the tournament rankings.

After forward John Villaver gave Laguna their biggest lead at 61-46 at the start of the fourth, Gensan gamely battled back against the bigger, taller and more experienced Trace Laguna with Jaypee Locsin, Jasper Callo and John Gonzaga conniving in a 12-0 run to trim the deficit down to three, 61-58, with 4:05 remaining in the game.

But Ekwe hit a turnaround jumper and guard Ricky Ricafuente scored back-to-back triples to put the Stallions unassailably ahead 68-58.

“We wanted to win this game so badly in preparation for the championship and the tournament points,” Trace Laguna coach Nomar Isla said. - Liga Pilipinas Media Bureau (THE FREEMAN)