Laguna rips Pampanga, faces unbeaten MisOr in leg finals

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines - Host Trace-Laguna Stallions barged into the championship game of the Laguna leg of the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference II Friday night by whipping the Smart-Pampanga Buddies, 88-82, at the Stallions’ Gym in Trace College.

The Stallions of Erwin Genuino and coach Nomar Isla will play the Misamis Oriental Meteors of Gov. Oscar Moreno and coach Jun Noel in the one-game leg final.

The Stallions managed to lead by as many as 20 points with 3:33 to play in the third period on a basket by newly activated Jerwin Gaco, 64-44.

However, the Buddies of coach Allan Gregorio banked on timely baskets by Khiel Misa and Don Camaso and a three-point play by Terrell Theophile to cut their deficit to four, 79-83, 2:44 on the clock.

Suddenly, Pampanga could not buy a basket. Veteran guard Ricky Ricafuente answered the Buddies with three free throws to give the Stallions breathing space, 86-79, at the 25-second mark. Jemal Vizcarra threatened for the last time with a triple, 82-86, with only six ticks remaining. A quick foul on Rob Sanz led to two free throws that iced the game.

“Pampanga is a good team, they just refuse to give up,” said Isla. “We hope to be the first host team to win their leg this conference.”

So far, the hosts have failed to cart away the trophy in all the five legs completed thus far in the 11-leg conference supported by Smart, ML Kwarta Padala, Air21, Accel, Burlington, Laptop Phoneshop, Nature’s Spring and Molten and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

In the first game, the Meteors continued their amazing romp as they formalized their entry in the finals by beating the Iloilo Mang Inasal of Robert Uy and coach Jerry Jaranilla, 82-65.

The Meteors thus kept their record of six wins in as many games this conference, in the process picking up a two-point bonus in the Liga tour standings for sweeping their three games in Laguna.

The Mang Inasal will dispute third place with the Buddies.

Former pro guard Joey Mente was red hot, punishing Mang Inasal with five triples. The Meteors raced to an 11-0 lead but briefly allowed the Mang Inasals to go ahead, 18-15. Five straight Meteors’ points restored the lead at the end of the first period, 20-18.

The Meteors then blew the game wide apart, erecting an 18-point lead in the third period, 51-33.

Still, the Mang Inasals did not quit and whittled their deficit, threatening on a three-point play by Sanny Abaring early in the fourth period, 60-57.

However, Dexter Micutuan played fireman with five straight points to ignite the Meteors’ 22-8 finish.

Mente finished with 25 points and six assists, followed by Mark Yee with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Jojo Laborte led Iloilo ‘s cause with 18 points and eight rebounds. Francis Barcellano added 14 markers as the only other Mang Inasal in twin digits.