Laguna rips Gen Santos, faces Taguig for final slot

MANILA, Philippines - Host Trace-Laguna beat GenSan, 76-63, to arrange a knockout match with Forward Taguig for the second championship berth in the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Laguna leg at the Trace College gym in Los Baños, Laguna yesterday.

The Stallions led from start to finish but had to thwart the Warriors’ third quarter charge to complete the victory.

Jay-Arr Estrada poured nine of the Stallions’ 11 points as they kept a 50-40 lead after the Warriors closed within, 37-39, behind Apol Coronado.

Jan Villaver then took over for Laguna in the fourth, scoring 11 of the team’s 21 points for the win.

The Stallions levelled their win-loss card at 1-1 for a crack at the second championship berth in the weeklong games backed by Smart, Accel, Molten, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Defending national champion Misamis Oriental stayed unbeated at 2-0 with an 82-75 win over Taguig as it clinched the first berth earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, selected games from the Laguna leg will be shown next week from Wednesday to Saturday. Liga Pilipinas Classics are also aired daily on Viva Prime Channel.

Liga’s official website is at www.ligapilipinas.net.