THE Zamboanga Valientes seek their first-ever leg title in The Asian Tournament on Sunday when they face off against host Pola Pilipinas at the Pola Gymnasium in Oriental Mindoro.
The Valientes are in the finals for the first time after narrowly missing the championship round during the first two legs in China and Passi, Iloilo.
Job Alcantara led Zamboanga to the finals with 25 points, eight assists, and five steals in their 142-94 rout of the Jambo Warriors last Saturday.
Former Meralco player Franky Johnson, one-time UAAP MVP Malick Diouf of the University of the Philippines, Benilde product AJ Benson, and San Beda guard Peter Alfaro also played well for the Valientes owned by Junnie Navarro.
Pola vs. Zamboanga back in the group phase
But the Valientes will have their hands full against Pola Pilipinas, the Leg 2 champion heading into another finals with an unbeaten slate.
The Mindoro-based squad also won its head-to-head encounter with Zamboanga, 81-80, early in Leg 3 behind import Xavier Alexander's triple-double.
The Valientes, however, are eyeing a big-time bounce back to win a breakthrough title in the fledgling regional tournament among Asian club teams.
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