The 2001 MBA Finals (or the 2001 MBA National Finals) was the championship round of the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA)'s 2001 season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs in second phase.
2001 MBA Finals
| Team | Coach | Wins |
|---|
| LBC-Batangas Blades |
Nash Racela |
3 |
| Negros Slashers |
Robert Sison |
1 |
|
| Dates | December 12–19, 2001 |
|---|
| MVP | Eddie Laure |
|---|
| Northern finals | Blades defeated Andok's-San Juan Knights |
|---|
| Southern finals | Slashers defeated Cebuana Lhuillier Gems |
|---|
|
| Game |
Date |
Road team |
Result |
Home team
|
| Game 1 |
December 12 |
Negros Slashers |
84–87 (0–1) |
LBC-Batangas Blades
|
| Game 2 |
December 14 |
Negros Slashers |
74–85 (0–2) |
LBC-Batangas Blades
|
| Game 3 |
December 16 |
LBC-Batangas Blades |
71–80 (2–1) |
Negros Slashers
|
| Game 4 |
December 19 |
LBC-Batangas Blades |
94–75 (3–1) |
Negros Slashers
|
| Negros Slashers 84, LBC-Batangas Blades 87
|
| Blades leads the series, 1–0 |
1999 titlist Manila Metrostars members Rommel Adducul, Alex Compton and Peter Martin started out hot that seated LBC-Batangas comfortably on top, 54–31, at halftime. But the Blades turned cold, as the Slashers starting to come-back led by John Ferriols, who shot a one-handed fallaway shot capped a string of runs that put the Slashers back in the game, that also made Slashers lead 80–76. But Eddie Laure stepped up to score five of the Blades’ next seven points, foiling the three-time Southern Conference champions’ rally with an 87–84 victory.[1]
| Negros Slashers 74, LBC-Batangas Blades 85
|
| Blades leads the series, 2–0 |
Due to the Blades' tough defense, 25-9 first quarter spree, they only held the Slashers to only three points in the last seven minutes of fourth quarter to seal an 85–74 victory. Alex Compton scored 25 points, six rebounds, two assists and one shot block, while Tony Boy Espinosa, who with Laure anchored Batangas’ win in the opener, actually keyed the team's decisive 17–3 run midway in the fourth that turned a 68–71 deficit into a rousing victory. With Compton at the firing end, the Blades surged to a and were still comfortably on top entering the fourth quarter, 68–54.[2]
| LBC-Batangas Blades 71, Negros Slashers 80
|
| Blades leads the series, 2–1 |
University of Saint La Salle Gym, Bacolod |
Slashers, led by Dino Aldeguer's 15 points with Reynel Hugnatan's 20 rebounds brings a fourth quarter run that secured Slashers' win and prevent a sweep by Blades.[3]
| LBC-Batangas Blades 94, Negros Slashers 75
|
| Blades leads the series, 3–1 |
University of Saint La Salle Gym, Bacolod |
With Espinosa and Rommel Adducul on the firing end, the Blades roared to a 26–17 lead in the first quarter while Compton joined in spearheading the Blades’ breakaway in the early going, hitting the treys and knocking in jump shots from the perimeter and underneath as the visiting squad roared to a 50-28 bulge at the turn. With the three and help from Ralph Rivera, Bladed was lifted to a 47–23 lead. Espinosa erupted for 21 points, including 17 in the first two quarters that set the tone for the rout.
Blades then thwarted the Slashers’ repeated rallies in the fourth period to humble their more experienced rivals on their first championship appearance and kept the Northern Conference tradition of winning all four MBA diadems with a 94–75 victory and bag the MBA national crown.[4]
