CORDOBA (LNBP) – The runners-up in this year’s FIBA Americas League, Halcones UV Xalapa, have reached the Mexican LNBP title series with a 4-1 triumph in the South Zone Finals over Halcones de Cordoba.

Game 5 was knotted at 69-69 late in the third quarter on Tuesday but Xalapa pulled away for a 104-87 triumph.

They will now face the winner of the North Zone Finals showdown between Soles de Mexicali and Tecos UAG.

Soles, the beaten finalists in the 2008 FIBA Americas League, lead Tecos 3-2 with that Game 6 on Thursday.

Xalapa, who hosted the FIBA Americas League Final Four this year but lost a nail-biting title game to Universo/BRB of Brazil, scored the last five points of the third period on Tuesday night against Cordoba for a 74-69 advantage.

After Cordell Henry opened the scoring in the last quarter with a basket for Cordoba to trim the deficit to 74-71, Dontae Truitt responded with a three-ball to trigger a 9-0 run for Xalapa that propelled them to victory.

Halcones Xalapa had thrashed Halcones de Cordoba 98-70 in Game 4 with Ayon’s 20 points leading the scoring.

FIBA