Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
LINKTECH overcame a 39-point performance by Nur Hafizah Hj Abdul Sidek on Sunday to advance to the women's final of the YOU.C1000 Cup.
They edged Validus Enterprise 73-69 to set up a meeting against Propel in the title decider on Wednesday.
Charina Caballero topscored for Linktech with 25 points - despite going scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Saralyn Mospa finished with 21 points, 13 of them coming in the final 10 minutes, while Angelyn Catalan poured in 14 in the victory.
C Maglalang was the other player in double figures for Validus with 10 in the loss.
Linktech was in front front much of the first half but both teams were deadlocked at 37-37 at halftime at the BBA Court in Batu Bersurat.
Fizah, who had 22 first half points, was forced to sub out midway through the third quarter after picking up an injury from catching a pass down low.
Linktech took advantage with full court pressure and scored nine unanswered points.
They got their largest lead at 52-42 before Fizah checked back in with a minute left in the stanza.
She split her freethrows just before the end to cut the gap to 54-47 heading to the decisive frame.
Linktech led by as many as 12 points and both teams traded three-point baskets midway through.
Validus clawed their way back into the match behind the crowd after back-to-back turnovers by Linktech.
It was a two-possession game heading down the wire after Fizah knocked down a jumper with just over a minute left.
Linktech came up empty handed down the other end were whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul to prevent their opponents to score in transition.
Fizah could only hit the first from the charity stripe to make it 71-68 but Linktech turned the ball over with an offensive foul.
Fizah missed her layup attempt and picked up an unsportsmanlike foul trying to prevent Mospa for an easy two with 30 seconds left.
She missed the first and hit the second to make it a two-possession game.
Fizah intercepted the ball but blew a wide open layup in transition.
Maglalang got the offensive board but was fouled.
She went one for two from the line and Fizah fouled out the next play where Mospa hit one of her foul shots to ice the game.
