Slashers go for Southern finals stint vs Eagles

Bacolod braces for a big celebration today in time for the annual Masskara festival as the Negros Slashers try to formalize their stint in the MBA Southern Conference Finals with a repeat win over the Davao Eagles at the University of St. La Salle gym.

The Slashers are all fired-up to wrap their best-of-three series as they hope to sustain the momentum of that big 96-90 victory over the Eagles in Davao last Sunday and advance to the conference championships.

Unlike Negros, Crossover Cup champion San Juan does not have the proverbial homecourt edge, but the Knights are likewise expected to go flat out for the sweep of their Northern Conference rival Laguna Lakers in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

The Knights trounced the FedEx-backed Lakers, 93-84, also last Sunday, and will gun for the clincher at 2 p.m. at the New San Luis Sports Complex in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

One thing going against the Knights, however, is the sidelining of 6-foot-9 Bonel Balingit, who was slapped a one-game suspension due to unsportsmanlike conduct last Sunday.

Victories by the Slashers and the Knights will put them in the conference championships against the winners in the Cebu-Iloilo and Manila-Pasig-Rizal series, respectively.

Expected to lead the Slashers bid are Maui Huelar, Cid White, John Cardel and 1998 MVP John Ferriols, while the Knights are expected to bank on the tandem of Chris Calaguio and Raffy Reavis. - Joey Villar