Slashers out to end series today

Lipa City – RCPI Negros goes for the kill against LBC Batangas today when they tangle in Game Three of the Metropolitan Basketball Association First Conference title series at the Lipa Youth and Cultural Center here.

The Slashers bested the Blades twice last weekend to move within a win of sweeping the best-of-five series and avenging their defeat to the Blades in last year’s MBA national finals.

They could do it in the 6 p.m. encounter if their deadly backcourt duo of Dino Aldeguer and Dennis Madrid shine again and if John Ferriols and Reynel Hugnatan continue to pound the shades.

"Now that we’ve held our homecourt advantage, our chances are definitely better," said Slashers coach Joshua Villapando who earlier assessed they have an 80 percent chance of winning if they can take the first two games in Bacolod City.

The Slashers, starring Madrid, prevailed in Game One (89-80) and repeated in Game Two (75-68) as Aldeguer took over the savior’s role.

"From the start, we know that we have the edge at the backcourt because of the injury suffered by Serrano (Chuchu)," said Villapando.

"Either Madrid or Aldeguer will cancel out Tony Boy Espinosa, giving the other leeway," said Villapando. "Of course, our big men (Ferriols and Hugnatan) have been holding fort inside the paint."

If Villapando would have his way, he’d rather not let the Blades live another day. The Blades, of course, won’t just roll and die.

"Were just focusing on Game Three," said LBC Batangas coach Nash Racela. "What’s important is for us to break their run." To do that, Racela expects his wards to step up on defense and improve on their field goal shooting.

In fact the average production of the Blades’ chief gunners Alex Compton, Jeffrey Sanders and Eddie Laure dropped in the finals. Sanders has taken the most drastic plunge as he averaged only 8.5 points in the first two games as compared to more than 198 points in the elimination phase.

Races said he’d come up with a few adjustments, noting that they were able to keep up with the Slashers until the final minutes, where the Slashers found heroes.

If the Blades take Game Three, they get another crack at the Slashers in Game Four, which is slated at 3 .m. tomorrow at the same venue.

Granting the Blades manage to level the series, the deciding Game Five would return to Bacolod City.

Villapando isn’t even looking at that direction.