Pepsi Cup: Linktech have final date with Babes Boutique

FAVOURITES Linktech were taken to overtime by Yuan Tong Enterprise (YTE) before outscoring their rivals 102-100 in the semi-finals of the 2009 Brunei Pepsi Cup last night to book a date with Babes Boutique in the final tonight.

Billed as a battle between two giants Geve Leones of Linktech against YTE captain Esmond Tan the first semi-final at the Brunei Basketball Association court in Batu Bersurat last night saw Leones pour in 53 points the most points in the tournament by a single player to outshine his rival.

Elvin Requintin had 19 points for Linktech while Tan led YTE with 39 points and Benjamin Lim had 17 points."I was quite surprised by my performance," said Leones. "Hopefully I can turn in another good performance for the final," added the 29-year-old Filipino.

Free throws again led to YTE's downfall last night.

The overtime period saw a lot of fouls committed by both sides, and while Linktech capitalised on their free throws to win the game, YTE wasted them.

Leones scored eight points in overtime with six of them coming from the charity stripe.

In the previous meeting between the two sides during the opening night, Apollo Bibat lifted Linktech to a 77-76 victory with two free throws in the final seconds of the game.

Both teams started out equally last night but Linktech managed to edge ahead at 24-19 going into the second period.

YTE were more dependent on their outside shooting as opposed to Linktech, who played more penetrating basketball.

Linktech also played well in transition their players making backdoor cuts that YTE couldn't deal with.

It was the same affair in the second quarter as Linktech were playing well as a team.

Tan, meanwhile, had to carry his team as his YTE teammates were not stepping up at the offensive end.

Linktech were cleaning the boards on the offensive end and quickly extended their lead to 48-38.

Down 70-59 going into the final period of the game, YTE managed to regroup as they went on an 8-0 run led by Lim Liang Wei, with six points, to reduce the deficit to 74-71 with six minutes left in the game.

Benjamin, who had a quiet first half came alive in the final period, scoring five quick points to bring his team to within a point at 80-79 with two minutes left.

Tan finally grabbed the lead for YTE for the first time since tipoff through a three-point play at 81-80 after Linktech missed a shot at the other end.

Both teams exchanged baskets in the final minutes of the game which finished 91-91 at the end of regulation time.

Leones was in a class of his own in overtime doing everything from scoring to assisting to put Linktech in the final.

In the other semi-final, Babes Boutique outclassed Chop Eng Seng Keo (CESK) Pinoy Resources 111-85 to move into the championship match.

"It was our speed we are a younger team that helped us win the game," said Kaka Espartero, the head coach of Babes Boutique.

Espartero has set his sights on the final since the start of the tournament and they have achieved that feat by reaching the 100-point barrier in four of their seven victories.

Babes Boutique had six players in double figures with their captain, Don Dadis Mordeno, leading the way with 29 points and Josend Mangoroban contributing 20 points.

CESK, meanwhile, was led by Wawie Ebanez with 27 points.

Linktech players are looking to make it three in a row in the final today having won the 2007 Sultan's Cup and the 2008 Aewon's Sultan Cup, where they competed as Ilonggo Slashers.

The Brunei Times