Slashers clinch conference title

LIPA CITY – Reynel Hugnatan unleashed a monster game last night as he powered the RCPI Negros Slashers to a title-clinching 87-82 victory over the LBC Batangas Blades in the MBA First Conference before a stunned crowd at the Lipa City Cultural Center.

Hugnatan, last year’s Most Improved Player awardee, had 26 points, 10 of them coming in a pivotal third-quarter blast that helped the Slashers sweep their best-of-five duel and clinch their first-ever title in the five-year-old league.

Alex Compton’s triple, one of the two field goals he made in the final half, pushed the Blades closer, 82-84, with 2:30 left but it proved to be their last hurrah as the Slashers blanked them the rest of the way.

"It’s pure hardwork on our part. It’s been long overdue," said RCPI Negros coach Joshua Villapando, who took over the coaching reins from Robert Sison in a major pre-season revamp.

Hugnatan actually sputtered in the final period but John Ferriols, the league MVP in 1998, stepped into fill the void, pouring eight of his 16 points in the final quarter, including a foul shot that zapped the fight out of the reigning national champions.

Eddie Laure, MVP of 2001, tried to carry the Blades on his shoulders as he sizzled with nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter when he pushed his team to within striking distance.

Hugnatan was almost unstoppable in the third quarter where he exploded for 10 points and helped the Slashers grab the upperhand on their way to a 64-57 lead.

After engaging the Slashers in a tight contest, the Blades slowly pulled away, breaking a 12-12 deadlock to close the opening quarter enjoying a 26-17 lead.

Compton then sank a couple of three-pointers to spark another run, giving LBC Batangas its biggest lead at 36-26 with over seven minutes left in the first half.

But Francisco whipped up a storm of his own, burying two triples to ignite a big Negros counter-attack that levelled the count at 47-all at the half.