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Ekwe leads Laguna past Pampanga for semis slot

03/31/2009

ANGELES CITY — Nigerian lottery pick Samuel Ekwe returned to the line up of the the Trace-Laguna Stallions to power his team to a 95-87 road victory over the Smart Pampanga Buddies in the pivotal Game Five and nail the fourth and last semifinal slot of the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference II Playoffs Saturday night at the Holy Angel University Gym.

Ekwe, who missed Friday’s Game Four to attend his graduation from San Beda College, showed why he has been such a vital cog in the Stallions’ campaign as he registered another double-double performance en route to the win. Ekwe scored eight straight points followed by an Axel Doruelo triple that erased the Buddies’ seven-point lead and pushed the Stallions ahead for good with 2:20 left in the third period, 57-55.

Ricky Ricafuente then added 10 more points in a decisive 15-0 run that gave the Stallions a comfortable 83-68 margin late in the fourth period. Good free throw shooting by the Stallions at the end game preserved the win as the Los Baños based cagers sank 10 of their 12 attempts, neutralizing the flurry of six Buddies triples within the final three minutes.

“Pampanga is the toughest seventh seed a team can face. Defense again saved us today,” said winning coach Nomar Isla. “Ekwe gave us the added energy boost and the rest of the team responded to the challenge.”

It was a tough loss for the Buddies and coach Allan Gregorio, who controlled the game up to late in the third period. Behind the hot shooting of Joshua Urbiztondo, Khiel Misa and Jemal Vizcarra, the Buddies raced to an early 39-35 edge at halftime. Vizcarra clustered four straight points in the third period to give the Buddies their last taste of the lead, 55-48.

“Our big men played superb today and helped us control the pace of the game. But they have to raise their play several notches higher as we enter the semis. The southern teams are very physical and will not give an inch,” added Isla.

Jerwin Gaco led the Stallions with 21 points and 12 rebounds while Ekwe had 20 points and 16 rebounds. Urbiztondo made four triples for 22 points to top the Buddies. Don Camaso followed with 14 points and 10 rebounds.