Pampanga and Taguig arranged a titular showdown after winning over separate foes in Game 3 of the National Basketball League (NBL) Season 2 Semifinals last Sunday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
The Pampanga Delta beat the Laguna Pistons, 95-80, and the Taguig Generals won last season’s champion Parañaque Aces, 87-80, to set up a best-of-three clash for the crown of the league for homegrown talents.
Bryan Santos had 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists in front of a packed crowd on their homecourt as the top-seed Delta reached the finals in only their first season in the league.
Gilbert Ocampo scored 17 points and Mark Tamayo added 15 points, all of which on three-point shots, in the win by the Alan Trinidad-coached Pampanga over No. 4 Laguna.
Helino Francisco came away with a big game after making 17 points and 19 rebounds as the Generals, who came into the playoffs as the third-ranked team, advanced to the NBL finals for the first time by dethroning the second-seed Aces.
LJ Mayo and Rickson Gerero also contributed in Taguig’s win, adding 11 and 10 points respectively in the rubber match for a spot in the finals.
Game One of the NBL Finals will be held next weekend.
