Pacman Rules: Knocks out M. Lhuillier for the second time to win MVBA pre-season tourney

Fighting as courageous as their team owner Manny Pacquiao, the visiting Gensan Pacman proved their previous victory over M. Lhuillier was no fluke, knocking out the Cebu Jewelers anew in overtime, 91-88, to win the title of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Gov. Gwen Garcia Cup Pre-Season Tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Dreaded triggerman Roderick "Balong" Ramos wielded another explosive shooting night to become the runaway choice for the MVP award. He finished with 22 points capped by a long 3-pointer and two free throws with 28 seconds remaining in overtime that flattened the Jewelers for good.

"We're just the hungrier team compared to M. Lhuillier," said Pacman coach Ramon Pido. "When the game went into overtime, I told my boys not to panic. I told them to be composed and just keep their focus in the game."

Pacman, which handed M. Lhuillier's only defeat in the elimination round, 86-82, could have won the game outright in the regulation period, but Jewelers' forward Danny Aying sank a buzzer-beating triple that tied the count at 77-all, thus, sending the game into overtime.

Aying also hit a triple earlier to pull M. Lhuillier within, 74-75. The Jewelers even had a chance to grab the lead, but Jayford Rodriguez missed a reverse layup off a two-in-one play with 16 seconds left in the regulation.

"We're David fighting against Goliath. I said to my boys how did David beat Goliath? By using his head. That is our advantage, we're able to let them (M. Lhuillier) play with our brand of play. As a result, they had difficulty coping up with our running game," said Pido.

Gensan Pacman saw their 14-point lead, 49-35, early in the quarter dwindled down to one point, 65-66, on an electrifying slam dunk by Rodriguez with 5:45 to go in the regulation.

Ramos and Louie Medalla, however, quickly came into the rescue by hitting two 3-pointers to pad Pacman's lead to seven, 73-67.

Norberto "Weng" Farochilin opened the extra five-minute period by hitting a pair of freebies to a 79-77 Pacman edge, but Aying and Marlon Piodo buried back-to-back baskets to give the Jewelers their first taste of the lead, 81-79.

After Pacman regained their lead, 84-81, the closest the Jewelers could come was at 83-84 with 49.9 seconds remaining as Piodo missed two consecutive undergoal stabs that could have turned the tide in favor of M. Lhuillier.

As if rubbing salt to M. Lhuillier's injury, Ramos came out of nowhere to bank a long trey that upped Pacman's lead to four, 87-83, with 28 seconds left. Worse, James Laygo lost handle of the ball with 17 seconds to go.

In an effort to stop the clock, Laygo quickly fouled Ramos, who showed nerves of steel but drilling in his charities that lunged the final nail of the Jewelers' coffin.

"It's a very exciting game and I enjoyed watching it. I'm doubly happy because they won the championship," said Jinkee, the amiable wife of Manny Pacquiao who acted as Pacman's chief cheerleader.

Coronado added 17 points, while Ian Daja chipped in 11 markers for Pacman, which clinched its third straight championship in just a two-month span. They earlier won invitational tournaments in Tagum City, Davao and in Maramag Bukidnon.

"Well, it (Pacman's victory) only shows that Mindanao has a strong team," said M. Lhuillier coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba in graciously accepting defeat.

Woodrow Enriquez topped the Jewelers with 18 points, Laygo added 17, and Aying fired 16 markers in a sterling performance that could have earned him the MVP honors had they came out victorious.
The scores
Gensan Pacman (91) - Ramos 22, Coronado 17, Daja 11, Medalla 9, Locsin 7, Rubi 6, Farochilin 6, Cabanlit 6, Sandoval 4, Tadena 3
M. Lhuillier (88) - Enriquez 18, Laygo 17, Aying 16, Rodriguez 15, Piodo 10, Bat-og 6, Llanto 4, Tangarorang 2