The Taguig Generals stepped closer to their second National Basketball League-Pilipinas crown, defeating La Union PAOwer, 113-108, in Game 1 of the Chairman's Cup best-of-three finals series late Wednesday at the Hagonoy Sports Complex in Taguig.

Dan Anthony Natividad stepped up, delivering 29 points to put the Generals one win away from clinching its first NBL title since winning the Season 2 crown in 2019.

Game 2 is set on Saturday in San Juan, La Union.

Natividad buried a lay-up to give Taguig its biggest lead, 101-91, and converted another basket at the end of the Generals' 6-0 run to take a 107-98 lead late in the contest.

LJ Mayo added 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Mike Sampurna chipped in 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals in the contest.

Billy Ray Boado had 27 points and eight rebounds, and Jap Pambid collected 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for La Union, which will try to even the series this weekend and force a deciding match for the crown in the regional league for homegrown talents in their respective province, city and municipality.