Monday, July 21, 2008 Stallions nab third place; Niños battle Pampanga for title
THE Trace Laguna Stallions came up with a solid second half performance to finish third in the Liga Pilipinas Cebu leg following a 92-63 win over the Zamboanga Amores at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
Glenn Bolocon scored 26 points to lead the Stallions in earning an additional four Liga Points before it hosts the final week of the tournament on July 31 to Aug. 3.
The Stallions broke the game wide open in the third quarter with an 11-0 run to secure the win for good
Meanwhile, the M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños are back on familiar grounds—the finals.
Cebu climbed from a 12-point deficit with a stunning 20-6 run in the final period to beat the Zamboanga Amores, 95-87, while Pampanga went on a shooting rampage in the final seven minutes of the game to overcome Trace Laguna Stallions, 104-90, in the semifinals at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex last Saturday night.
Cebu was set to face off with the Pampamnga Buddies for its third leg title at press time last night.
Richard Ian Saladaga picked the right time to shine as he sparked life to the Niños, who were surprised by the deadly outside shooting of the Amores.
Saladaga scored 15 points on top of eight rebounds and two assists as he led Cebu’s daring fourth quarter charge together with Ron Capati, Stephen Padilla, Marlon Basco and Mark Ababon.
Both teams figured in five deadlocks and 10 lead changes before Cebu got the lead for good in the final 3:43 of the game.
Laguna meanwhile, played a very solid game for the first 34 minutes only to collapse in the rest of the way to the Buddies. (RCM)
