Laguna Stallions force winner-take-all

TAGUIG CITY , Philippines  – The visiting sixth seed Trace-Laguna Stallions forced a winner-take-all game for the last seat in this weekend’s Super Leg by upsetting fifth seed Forward Taguig, 83-79, in their Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Wild Card game Tuesday evening at the C. P. Tinga Memorial Hall.

With their conference on the line, the Stallions of Erwin Genuino banked on the combined 15 fourth period points of guard Alex Angeles and the returning Leo Losentes plus crucial baskets by Alfie Grijaldo to pull off the victory and remain in the hunt for the last remaining seat in next week’s Liga Super Leg national finals.

With Taguig constantly threatening, Grijaldo, Angeles and Losentes banged in a triple each that erected an 81-74 Stallions advantage with 1:13 to play. Angeles and Losentes then split their separate trips to the free throw each to ensure the win at the 41-second mark. Jeff Sanders settled the final tally with the game’s final five points.

Angeles, RB Mangahas and Ron Capati gave Laguna their biggest lead of the contest, 43-33, early in the third period.