Bacoor awaits finals foe

Unbeaten Bacoor Strike sa Serbisyo punched a ticket to the Metro League Reinforced Conference Finals after beating Taguig, 96-83, in the South Division championship late Tuesday night at its Strike Gym homecourt in Bacoor City, Cavite.

Inspired by a wild home crowd, the Strikers raced to a 46-32 halftime lead behind the combined efforts of Kenmark Miranda and ex-Far Eastern Tamaraws RJ Ramirez and Prince Orizu.

With a sizzling 50 percent shooting from the field, Bacoor even continued step on the gas from thereon, widening the gap to as many as 24 points.

Bacoor thus advanced to a best-of-three grand finale next week against the North Division winner which will either be Quezon City or Caloocan, which battle it out Saturday in Caloocan.

Miranda finished with an efficient 19 points in just 18 minutes of play, Ramirez added 14 while Nigerian reinforcement Orizu posted a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double for Bacoor, which eliminated Pasigueño, 86-68, in a one-game semis faceoff Thursday last week.

Mark Pangilinan and Paolo Castro also contributed 12 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Strikers who completed a rare double championship win at home, its boys team earlier beating Las Piñas 68-41 to cop the 17-and-under South Division title.

Former Naga College Foundation slotman Emmanuel Ojuola, for his part, tallied 23 points and 15 rebounds in a losing cause for the Generals.