GenSan weathered Batangas’ repeated assaults to tally a 61-55 victory on Saturday and force a Game 3 decider in their battle for the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season South Division second finals slot at the Batangas City Coliseum.
Bacoor booked the first championship seat following a 78-72 repeat over Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines in the other division semifinals earlier.
The GenSan Warriors wasted a 15-point spread in the third quarter, yielded control twice to the Batangas City Embassy Chill Athletics in the final canto, before striking back behind Hafer Mondragon and Enzo Joson down the stretch of Game 2 of their best-of-three series.
Mondragon drilled in a triple, Joson canned a corner jumper, before Mondragon sank two free throws for a closing 7-point run in the last 1 minute and 7 seconds that enabled the Warriors to avenge their 75-81 defeat to the Athletics in Game 1.
GenSan and Batangas dispute the right to fight Bacoor for the South title at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the same venue.
Joson, a former National University Bulldog, wound up with 14 points, including 10 in the second half, 3 rebounds and 2 assists to clinch best player honors over John Wilson with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists, and Mondragon with 7 points and 6 rebounds.
