Knights, Slashers gun for clincher

Andok’s San Juan and Negros go for the clincher as they seek a second straight win versus embattled rivals LBC Batangas and Cebuana Lhuillier in their semifinal playoffs in the 2001 MBA first phase.

The Knights look forward to a party at home turf at the San Juan Gym after their 3 p.m. tiff with the Blades while the Slashers hope to conquer the Gems in their own venue at the Cebu Coliseum at 5:30.

Banking on John Ferriols’ awesome inside game, Negros ripped a Mat Mitchell-less Cebuana Lhuillier, 102-91, before a wildly-cheering crowd at University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod Friday.

Andok’s San Juan, on the other hand, relied on a shackling second half defense and a 30-point explosion by Bruce Dacia in stunning LBC Batangas, 94-82, to the disappointment of the hometown crowd at Lipa Sentrum on the same day.

Cebuana Lhuillier is terribly missing the services of the hardworking Mitchell, who has yet to return from the United States for unknown reason. Minus the 6-foot-4 Fil-Am cager, the Gems are having a big problem contending Ferriols at the paint.

Cebuana Lhuillier needs to stop Ferriols and the Gems’ frontline combination of Homer Se, Jan Montalbo, Melvin Taguines, Willy Mejia and the versatile Peter Naron must do something about it in order to accomplish the job.

The Blades, meanwhile, must find an answer to the Knights’ choking man-to-man defense and to the high-leaping Dacia, who mocked every defender thrown at him by LBC Batangas coach Nash Racela Friday. – Joey Villar