Blades slash Patriots, gain Top 2 berth

LIPA CITY—— LBC Batangas withstood Nueva Ecija’s fiery rally down the stretch to prevail, 94-83, yesterday and assure itself of a Top 2 spot in the Metropolitan Basketball Association First Phase elimination round at the De La Salle Lipa Sentrum.

The Blades saw the Patriots threaten to within 79-81 from a 17-point deficit, but held on behind Eddie Laure and Alex Compton to tally their 11th win against three losses and assure them of the hardcourt advantage in the best-of-three semifinals.

Despite missing the services of injured big men Romel Adducul and Peter Martin, the Blades controlled most part of the penultimate game of the eliminations and were comfortably ahead, 67-50, going to the last two minutes of the third quarter.

The Blades were still in front, 79-66, until the Patriots began exploiting mismatches down low.

With 6-foot-6 Bob Allen, 6-4 Dave Bautista and 6-4 Billy Bansil frolicking inside the paint, the Patriots dropped a 13-2 bomb which pushed them to within two points with still 2:44 left to play.

Batangas coach Nash Racela sued for time and Laure, playing decoy, found Jeffrey Sanders for an open jumper, 93-79. After the Patriots missed, Laure then drove in and completed a three-point play that defused the rally.

The Patriots, who were handled by interim coach JB Yango while the team management is still looking for a replacement for Jojo Villa, dropped to 3-11.

Laure finished with 19 points and 12 rebound and shared best player of the game honors with Compton, who wound up with 20 points, three steals and one block.

San Adducul to harass him, Allen asserted his might inside for 12 points 13 rebounds, but the failure of Nueva Ecija’s outside gunners to deliver took its toll on the Patriots bid to close their First Phase campaign with a bang.

Blades team owner Santi Araneta and director Luis Chuidian were present to inspire their players, who’ll have to wait for their semifinal opponent.

Andok’s San Juan (10-3) and Negros (9-4) are still battling in Bacolod City at presstime with the game to decide which team is going to be relegated to the fourth spot and meet FedEx Laguna (7-7) in a knockout down for a semifinals berth. Also waiting for the outcomes is Cebuana Lhuillier (10-4).