Norwood, the leading candidate for the conference’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the first half when the Complete Protectors asserted their might in Game 4 of the semifinals series, before surviving a furious Whoppers endgame rally for the win and a second straight trip to the league’s championship round.

The Complete Protectors won the best-of-five series, 3-1.

Now they take another shot at defending champion Harbour Centre in a rematch of their hard-fought title series last year that went the full route. The Batang Pier won the match up by rallying back from a 19-point second half deficit in Game 3 to clinch the crown in overtime.

Game 1 of the championship showdown is set on Wednesday at the Batangas City Sports Complex.

"We have to do much better against Harbour Centre. We must play 40 full minutes if we want to win this title," said Hapee Toothpaste coach Louie Alas, back in the finals after a two-year absence.

Norwood also added nine rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes of play in his best game in the semifinals series, easily atoning for his lackluster 8-point showing in Game 3 which the Complete Protectors lost, 69-70.

"After our last game, I talked to Gabe and told him that he played too soft in our last game," Alas said. "He just told me, ‘Don’t worry coach, I’ll be fine in our next game,’ which is what he did."

The highly-touted shooting guard out of George Mason University was extra deadly in the second period, scoring 7 points as the Complete Protectors outscored the Whoppers, 24-10, to erase a three-point deficit for a 40-29 lead.

Norwood capped the telling run with two crowd-pleasing dunks, including one off a missed shot by Alfie Grijaldo.

Hapee extended the lead to 44-31 just before the halftime break.

"We came out strong. You have to give credit to the boys," Alas said. "Kahapon hindi na talaga kami nag-practice. Puro mental toughness na lamang ang ginawa namin."

But the Whoppers won’t easily go away.

Behind the outside sniping of Mike Bravo and Khiel Misa, Burger King rallied back and managed to close within 69-72 with 1:46 to play.

The scores

HAPEE 77 — Norwood 17, Juntilla, 12, Mercado 11, Borboran 8, Grijaldo 8, Daa 6, Rodriguez 5, Saguindel 5, Hugnatan 4, Tan 1.

BURGER KING 72 — Bravo 15, Ballesteros 11, David 10, Misa 10, arellano 9, Santos 7, Baluyot 6, Gregorio 4, Bonus 0, Barcellano 0, Angeles 0

Quarters 16-19, 44-33, 60-50, 77-72.