ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines – Defending National Champion Misamis Oriental Meteors and former champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños crushed separate opponents Thursday evening to arrange a titular showdown for the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Zamboanga City Leg at the Summit Centre of the Universidad de Zamboanga.
The two unbeaten teams will dispute the title at 6 p.m. today with host Zamboanga Uno Latinos and the EKB-Apayao Rapids clashing for third place at 4 p.m.
The Meteors of Gov. Oscar Moreno and coach Jun Noel routed the Latinos in the main game, 122-77, and remained in the hunt for the second automatic seat in November’s Super Leg that will crown the next National Champion of the league backed by Smart, Accel, Molten, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
Meanwhile, the Ninos of Michel J. Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba stretched their winning run to 14-0 by beating the Rapids of Gov. Elias K. Bulut, 107-72.