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| The Binan franchise is returning to its old home in Sta. Cruz, Laguna for Game 4 of the MPBL South Division Finals. Velvet South Basketball (file photo) |
MANILA—Biñan is set to make a return to an arena it once called home as it looks to make good use of its stolen homecourt advantage from Quezon in the MPBL South Division Finals.
The league announced on Sunday night that Game 4 of the national semifinal series, which could be the clincher for either the Tatak Gel or the Huskers, depending on who wins Game 3 on Monday night, will be at the Laguna Sports Complex in the province's capital town of Sta. Cruz on Wednesday night.
The Laguna Sports Complex was home to the Biñan franchise, back when they were still known as the Laguna Heroes, from 2022-2023.
Their last home stand at the said venue fell on the same night of the preview of the eventual 2023 MPBL National Finals between national champion Pampanga and South champ Bacoor City on July 22 that year.
It was when Biñan City mayor Gel Alonte returned to being one of the team's backers that the club currently known as the Tatak Gel made the Alonte Sports Arena its permanent home again.
However, Biñan, should it win Game 3 at Alonte, has a chance to close the South Finals out in its former home in what seems like a setup similar to how the first two games were played in Lucena.
Quezon hosted Game 1 at the Quezon Convention Center but moved the Game 2 hosting to the nearby Lucena Convention Center.
It was in Game 2 where the Tatak Gel tied the best-of-five series against the Huskers and stole the homecourt edge.
Some fans believe it would have been a 2-0 lead already for Biñan in the series if Marc Pingris had made a clutch hook shot that could have forced overtime in Game 1.
