Laguna Lakers turn back MBA selection

CALAMBA, Laguna — The Laguna Lakers came out of a two-game skid and stunned the erstwhile unbeaten MBA selection, 87-82, in the first Bert Lina-Jam Mercado Battle of Champions at the Camp Vicente Lim yesterday.

Pouncing on the sidelining of top player Rommel Adducul in the first quarter due to eye injury, the Lakers dominated the MBA stars, who were actually the members of the disbanded national team, as they took a 47-36 lead at the half and never looked back.

But it was not Adducul’s absence that did the MBA standouts in, but the Lakers just dished out a superb game before their home fans as they bounced back from back-to-back setbacks.

The MBA selection, caught in the center of the power struggle in the cage body, dropped to 2-1 (win-loss) card but will still advance to the finals with a victory over the Cebu Lhuillier squad tomorrow in San Pablo City.

Earlier, Lhuillier, the national interclub champion, banked on the 25 points of seven-time PBA best import Bobby Parks to trounce Wang’s Ball Club, 85-80, in the week-long tournament organized by Laguna sportsman Bert Lina.