By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno |PNA
MANILA — The Batangas City Athletics clinched the last seat in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Southern Division Finals after romping the Zamboanga Rapidos, 80-72, at the Batangas City Sports Center on Tuesday night.
The Athletics was in control for most of the game and eventually pulled away at the start of the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run for their largest lead at 18 points, 70-52, before keeping the Rapidos at bay for the remainder of the game.
Val Acuña fired 17 points, one rebound, and one assist for Batangas City, which will face the Davao Occidental Tigers in the South Finals at the Rizal Memorial College Gymnasium in Davao City starting Thursday night.
Harold Arboleda made 17 points, six caroms, five assists, and one steal for Zamboanga, which failed to sustain its momentum after a shock Game 1 win.
