Panthers, Wolves set up final duel in Elite caging

CEBU, Philippines - The top seeded Panthers ramped up their title retention campaign with a close 69-65 decision over the fifth-ranked Falcons in the Elite Basketball Season 7 at the Visayan Glass gym in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

The Panthers thus arranged a championship showdown with the Wolves, who kept their Cinderella run with a  stunning 97-81 upset of the second seed Seahawks.

Season MVP Mark Panerio topscored with 26 points laced with crucial free throws in the closing seconds that saved the day of the Panthers.

The Falcons actually led 18-12 in the early goings, but Panerio sparked a daring counter-attack in the second quarter to put the Panthers on top by a hairline at halftime, 32-31.

With big man Jundy Dimitiman joining the fray, the Panthers upped their lead to 49-40 but the Falcons, behind the efforts of Epus Rusiana and Ian Castrodes, launched a 20-9 attack to vault the Falcons to a 60-58 edge at the final four-minute mark.

However, Panerio willed his side back on the driver’s seat with a series of hits from the charity lane, giving the Panthers a 66-62 headway with two minutes left, for good.

In the other semis collision, Jax Bautista paced the sixth seeded Wolves with 26 points even as five others cashed in double figures underscoring their balanced attack. The Seahawks led at the bend, 42-38, but were in total disarray after the Wolves grabbed the upperhand in the third canto, 42-38. (FREEMAN)