MANILA—Batang Ginebra and Batang Phoenix topped their semifinal foes Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena to arrange a winner-take-all match for the 2017 Batang PBA 15-Under championship.
The young Fuel Masters rode on a hot start and cruised to a 69-54 victory over Batang Blackwater Elite to punch the first ticket to the Finals.
Arleen Jeffrey Lenon set the tone as he fired nine of his 25 points in Batang Phoenix’s killer 24-11 first quarter outburst. He once again unloaded nine markers in the payoff period to secure the win.
Misael Turingan chipped in 10 markers, while Ernesto Santos and Eldrige Tongol both wound up with eight points apiece.
Abel Juniel Lopez carried the fight for Batang Blackwater with his 11 points, while CJ Elymar Garcera had 10.
In the other semis pairing, the undefeated young Gin Kings used a strong third quarter surge to upend Batang San Miguel Beermen, 72-53.
Clarence Andrei Ramos scattered 16 points, but it was Ren Cobie Tolentino who caught fire in the third period, as he poured in 10 of his 14 markers in the frame.
Batang Ginebra caught its foe by surprise as it got its groove in the third quarter with 31 huge points to pull away for good.
Jhazel Aerol Paguiligan also chimed in 11 for Batang Ginebra. Resty Damaso paced Batang San Miguel with 19 points, while Dustin Dumana dropped 10 in the losing effort.
Batang Ginebra and Batang Phoenix will clash for the title on Friday, 1 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum, following the battle for third place game between Batang Blackwater and Batang San Miguel at 11 a.m.
Box Scores:
First Game:
Phoenix 69-Lenon 25, Turingan 10, Santos 8, Tongol 8, Yap 4, Tubon 3, Aquino 2, Paule 0, Vendero 0
Blackwater 54-Lopez 11, Garcera 10, Garcia 9, Macaspac 5, Morales 5, Fajardo 4, Orque 2, Pidlaon 2, D. Mallari 2, Memije 0, M. Mallari 0, Gatdula 0.
Quarterscores: 24-11, 41-29, 54-45, 69-54
Second Game:
Ginebra 72-Ramos 16, Tolentino 14, Paguiligan 11, Manalo 8, Tabotabo 7, Mendoza 4, Santos 3, Conseja 3, Rodriguez 2, Tanedo 2, Matias 2, Mamansag 0
San Miguel 53-Damaso 19, Dumana 10, Xym. Nadurata 8, Tupaz 6, Xyr. Nadurata 4, Ferrer 2, Gadia 2, Cristobal 1, Aseron 1, Agoncillo 0, De Guzman 0, Baranda 0, Horng 0
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