Blades, Slashers seek short route to MBA finals

LBC Batangas and Negros try to finish off their respective conference finals rivals in the resumption of the MBA Second Phase playoffs today.

The Blades tackle the Andok’s San Juan Knights at 3 p.m. at the La Salle Lipa Sentrum in the Northern Conference, while the Negros Slashers battle the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems at 5:30 p.m. at the Cebu City Coliseum in the Southern Conference.

Both the Blades and the Slashers hold a 2-1 edge over their opponents and could cut short the best-of-five series with victories today.

But the task is not easy for both teams.

The Blades suffered an 80-75 defeat to the Knights last Sunday, while the Slashers have to rally from 16 points down to subdue the Gems in Cebu City.

With the Blades returning to the comfort of their home, they are slight picks over the Knights, who remain dangerous with their intact roster.

The return of Ralph Rivera after serving a one-game suspension should add firepower to the Blades, who are mainly relying on an eight-man complement headed by Romel Adducul, Eddie Laure and Alex Compton.

LBC Batangas is determined to cut short the playoff because if the series extends to the full route, momentum will swing back to Andok’s San Juan.

The Slashers have beaten the Gems twice in a row after dropping the opener in Bacolod, but will have to bear with the highly partisan crowd and the rejuvenated Gems again.

Dennis Madrid and Cid White, heroes for the Slashers in their 94-86 victory in Game Three, should again sparkle to back up the efforts of main men John Ferriols, Johnedel Cardel and Reynel Hugnatan. MBA Games are being telecast over National Broadcasting Network Channel 4 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.