Stay clean claimed the last spot in the finals after they dispatched the hard-fighting Acreex in the Architects + Engineers Basketball Association 1st Davies Paints Cup on Sunday at the Cebu Eastern College gym.
With their backs against the wall after losing, 83-88, in their first meeting in the semifinals a few weeks back, Stay Clean responded with aplomb behind the leadership of vanguard Mike Cinco, who pulled out all the stops with 34 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
He did not have to do it alone though, as Paul Besinga aided him with 22 points while Paolo Alberto scattered 16 markers.
The win pushed Stay Clean into the finals against early qualifiers Fusion. Game 1 of the best-of-three series starts this Sunday at the same venue.
The loss put to waste the tremendous performance of Jun Villacorta and Richard Badayos, who combined to score 50 points.
Villacorta finished with 27 and six boards while Badayos had 23 markers, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.