Metrostars run show in Pirates' lair

Alex Compton, doing what he does best, exploded with 12 points in the final quarter as the Manila Metrostars repulsed the Pasig-Rizal Pirates, 89-80, yesterday in their MBA national playoff at the Pasig Sports Complex.

It was a typical Compton show with the shifty former MVP knocking in two triples, scoring a couple of jumpers and then slashing through the Pirates’ defense for a twinner. He wound up with 29 points in a game that included six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Metrostars showed up with Romel Adducul, but the former San Sebastian cager, sidelined by an ankle injury in the Intra-Con final last week, struggled in offense as the 1999 champions trailed most of the way.

But Compton found his rhythm midway in the fourth as the Metrostars seized the upperhand at 71-69 before unleashing a 7-2 run they used as the springboard for the victory that moved them a win from wrapping up their best-of-three series duel.

Underdog Iloilo banked on the endgame heroics of Nestor Echano and Yoyoy Villamin as it stunned Intracon champion Cebu, 100-98, and moved a step closer to clinching a slot in the Southern Conference finals.

The Voltz also snapped the Gems' 13-game winning streak.

Another victory will pit Manila against the winner of the San Juan-Laguna matchup.

The Metrostars actually trailed in the first 24 minutes and fell to as many as 39-47 midway in the third period.