Blades gain 2-0 lead in MBA title series

The LBC Batangas Blades held the Negros Slashers to just three points in the last seven minutes to pull off an 85-74 victory last night and move a win away from sweeping the MBA National Finals at the Mail and More Complex in San Andres, Manila.

"We just matched their defense with tougher defense and this I think spelled the difference," said Batangas coach Nash Racela, who also steered his wards to a pulsating 87-84 win in the opener of the best-of-five playoff last Wednesday.

The Blades gun for a sweep of the series tomorrow although they will have to complete the romp at the Slashers home at the University of St. La Salle gym in Bacolod City.

Alex Compton fired 25 points, including seven of Batangas’ last nine points while the rest of the Blades backed him up with a resolute defense that took the fight out of the Slashers.

Tony Boy Espinosa, who with Eddie Laure anchored Batangas’ win in the opener, actually keyed the team’s decisive 17-3 run midway in the fourth that turned a 68-71 deficit into a rousing victory.

With Compton at the firing end, the Blades surged to a 25-9 spred right in the first quarter and were still comfortably on top entering the fourth quarter, 68-54.

Compton took the best player of the game honors with 25 points, six rebounds, two assists and one shot block.

Despite the loss, Negros mentor Robert Sison remains optimistic of his team’s chances especially since they will be playing the next two games at home.

"We just could not sustain our aggressiveness in the endgame," said Sison. "But its not yet the end for us, we still have a chance to level the series at home."