Host Blades, Slashers fancied in Game One

Negros and LBC Batangas seek to use their homecourt edge to the hilt as they open their best-of-three semifinal duels with Cebuana Lhuillier and Andok’s San Juan, respectively, in the 2001 MBA season first phase today.

Humbled by the Knights, 84-63, in their homecourt in the eliminations, the Blades are determined to return the favor in a bid to move within a win of a first-ever finals stint.

The Slashers, on the other hand, hope to keep their invincibility at home as they look forward to re-stamp their class on the Gems for another title shot.

Negros and Cebu clash at 3 p.m. at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City before Batangas and San Juan collide at 5:30 p.m. at the Lipa Sentrum.

The Slashers have won all their five games at home, including a 95-91 conquest of the Gems in the June 3 inaugurals, and they are again expected to be propped up by the hometown crowd.

Cebuana Lhuillier struck back, 97-93, on June 22 at the Cebu City Coliseum to even things up.

This time, however, the odds are stacked on the Slashers’ side as the Gems’ main man Matthew Mitchell has yet to arrive from the United States. — Joey Villar