Compton leads Stars to MBA title series

Reigning national champion Manila unleashed a stirring fourth quarter run to scuttle Davao, 109-89, yesterday and clinch the first finals berth in the MBA Intra-Conference Challenge at the Mail and More Sports Complex in San Andres.

Alex Compton, last year’s MVP, played the fireman’s role for the Metrostars in the final quarter, firing 23 points in a game he spiked with 14 assists, five rebounds and five steals to send the elimination round topnotchers to the best-of-three championship.

Outduelled and outshot by the Davao tandem of Jomar Tierra and Felix Belano in the first three quarters, Compton found his range in the stretch as he unloaded 10 points in a fiery fourth quarter Manila run the Eagles found too tough to overcome.

The win spoiled the comeback of Davao coach Francis Rodriguez, who served a three-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"Alex (Compton) played a big game for us especially at the time when Davao tried to turn things around," said Manila coach Boyzie Zamar.

Tierra, who sizzled with six three-pointers to lead all scorers with 29 points, and Belano teamed up in a torrid third quarter Davao blitz that saw the Eagles turn a 50-66 halftime deficit into a 77-76 lead late in the quarter.

A triple by Tierra tied the count at 80 at the end of the third quarter but the Metrostars seized an 86-82 lead at resumption of the contest before the Davao gunner drained another trey that closed the gap at 86-85, 10 minutes left in the contest.

But Compton took over.

Hitting shots after shots, setting up his teammates for easy baskets and pulling off steals one after the other, Compton just couldn’t seem to do anything wrong as the Metrostars broke away for the victory.