Batang Alaska joins QC sister team in semis

MANILA, Philippines - Martin Mendoza scored 15 points as Batang Alaska-Quezon City swept its Group B elimination round with a 61-52 victory over Batang San Miguel-Taytay yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Defending champion Batang Talk N’ Text also emerged topnotcher in Group A by blasting Batang Sta. Lucia-Cainta, 113-42, on Friday.

Although the league allowed Quezon City to field two teams, the rule provides that only one of the two teams will advance to the finals of the 2009 Coca-Cola Batang PBA Summer.

That means the defending champion Texters and the Batang Aces, both coached by Mark Herrera, will face each other in the knockout semifinals scheduled on Friday.

Both Batang Alaska and Batang TNT finished their respective elimination rounds without a loss in four games.

In the other games, Batang Barako Bull-Marikina held off Batang Purefoods-Antipolo, 49-42, and Batang Rain or Shine-San Juan plastered Batang Ginebra-Pasay, 68-33, to stay in contention for a semifinal berth.