M. LHUILLIER bounces back: But Gensan Pacman stumbles in MVBA pre-season tourney

Smarting from a shocking loss to Gensan Pacman, the Cebu City-M. Lhuillier Jewelers fought with a renewed challenge and vented their wrath on the hapless West Negros College Mustangs of Bacolod City via a 97-83 romp in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) pre-season salvo dubbed as "Governor Gwen Garcia Cup" yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

It was a different scenario in the main game as Gensan Pacman failed to sustain their momentum, dropping a 79-89 loss to Manila's Bacchus- Harbour Centre. The setback was not a good news so to speak to Pacman's big boss Manny Pacquiao, who was celebrating his 28th birthday yesterday in the United States. Games today 3:00 pm WNC-Bacolod vs. Pacman 4:30 pm M. Lhuillier vs. Manila Bacchus

The Jewelers nailed the crucial victory sans three of their key players in James Laygo, Leo Bat-og, and Champion Canoneo, who were slapped with one-game suspension by coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba as a disciplinary measure for coming in late during their practice yesterday morning.

In their absence, power-playing center Don Enrico Llanto bravely picked up the slack to topscore with 18 points in the same way with Danny Aying, who contributed 16 points, 11 of which he unloaded in the fourth quarter that enabled the Jewelers to post their biggest lead, 90-71, with 3:05 left in the game.

"Coach Yayoy (Alcoseba) told us before the game to step up because we're playing without three of our key players. Also, we need to win badly to avoid elimination that is why I played aggressively," Aying told The Freeman.

Jayford Rodriguez chipped in 16 points, while Jessie Lumantas donated 10 markers for M. Lhuillier, which took full command right from the opening tip-off and led by as much as 16 points, 70-54, late in the third canto.

The closest Bacolod-WBC could come from there was at 59-70 as the red-hot Aying went on a furious scoring spree to help M. Lhuillier take a 19-point advantage twice, the last was at 92-73 on Woodrow Enriquez's short stab with 2:25 left in the game. Olarte drilled in three consecutive triples and Stanley Tizon added one 3-pointer, but their heavy bombardments did not in any way threaten the Jewelers, who sailed off smoothly to triumph with time on their side.

The Jewelers shoot for a championship slot when they clash with Manila-Bacchus/Harbour Centre in today's main game at 4:30 pm.

The scores
first game
M. Lhuillier (97) - Llanto 18, Aying 16, Rodriguez 16, Lumantas 10, Sayon 9, Enriquez 8, Piodo 6, Ocañada 5, Caputolan 4, Tangarorang 3
Bacolod-WNC (83) - Olarta 19, Tizon 18, Deocadis 14, Baclao 11, Abaring 6, Quilantang 6, Merced 4, Vergara 3, Jangayo 2

Second game
Manila-Bacchus (89)- Aquino 17, Membrere 17, Hubalde 12, Hardin 10, Reroma 9, Koyukang 8, Reyes 8, Cuevas 6.
GenSan-Pacman (79)- Farochilin 18, Ramos 13, Tadena 12, Medalla 10, Coronado 8, Daja 7, Rubi 3, Miller 2, Cabanlit 2, Sandoval 2, Locsin 2