Knights, Slashers in final

Andok’s San Juan thwarted LBC Batangas’ rally as it carved out a thrilling 80-75 victory yesterday to barge into the finals of the MBA’s first phase before a stunned Centrum La Salle Gym crowd in Lipa City.

The Knights used a blistering run in the early going to seize control and cushion the impact of the Blades’ attack in the fourth quarter to arrange a best-of-five showdown with the Negros Slashers tomorrow at the University of St. La Salle Gym in Bacolod City.

Bruce Dacia and Omanzie Rodriguez led the charge for the Knights as they finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively, in a win that completed their intriguing victories at their rivals’ home turf. San Juan took the best-of-three opener, 94-82, also in Lipa but dropped a 69-77 decision to the Blades in San Juan.

The Knights scored 10 unanswered points in the first quarter then sat on a 55-31 cushion in the third, only to waver a bit in the fourth that saw the Blades move to within five, 55-60, at the onset of the period.

But Dacia came through with a Blitz 3 and Chris Calaguio banged in a triple to power the Knights to another double-digit lead at 74-61.

Still, the Blades refused to give up as Rommel Adducul, last year’s MVP, Alex Compton and Tony Boy Espinosa pulled the team to within three, but Rafi Reavis and Rodriguez came through with clutch baskets to preserve the win for the Knights.