M. Lhuillier edges Mantawi in OT to go 2-0 in MVBA tilt

The M. Lhuillier-Cebu City Jewelers went strong in overtime to eke out a scrappy 93-90 win over the hard-fighting Mantawi Traders and grab the solo lead in the Visayas Division of the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) First Conference on Friday at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

Peppery guard Woodrow Enriquez topscored with 24 points, but it was bull-strong forward Enrico Llanto who made the biggest impact as the Jewelers coasted to a 2-0 start in the tournament backed up by Sulpicio Lines, Panasonic, Molten, Nature's Spring Drinking Water and Cokaliong Shipping Lines.

Llanto, who finished with 20 points, tallied nine of his team's last 11 points in the regulation and four in the extra period that gave the Jewelers breathing space amidst Mantawi's never-say-die spirit.

It was a close battle from start to finish that was accounted for a total of 11 deadlocks to the delight of the very appreciative spectators who stayed glued to their seats until the dying seconds.

After the eighth standoff at 64-64, Randy Sevilla scored eight straight points to give the Traders of Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Z. Ouano a 72-69 lead with still 4:29 left in regulation.

Llanto, however, launched a 9-0 swing by his lonesome in between Woodrow Enriquez' pair of free throws to put M. Lhuillier back in front at 80-74, 2:14 to go. In the ensuing play, Doroteo Almacin went 4-of-4 from the foul line to pull Mantawi of coach Eddie Ybañez within 78-80 with only 57 ticks remaining.

A defensive stop by the Traders on Llanto forced a jump ball and the possession arrow pointing on their side with only 14.8 seconds left.

With time winding down, Mantawi's Kim Calo pierced through the middle for a lay-up, but missed. Fortunately, Glenn Yuson grabbed the offensive rebound and quickly passed the leather to Sevilla, who then sank the equalizer, 80-80, with a second left, sending the game into overtime.

Sevilla opened the extra period with a breakaway lay-up off a steal from Enriquez for an 82-80 Mantawi lead, but that proved to be the Traders' last hurrah as Llanto and Aldrin Ocañada presided over a searing 12-2 run to push M. Lhuillier ahead by eight, 92-84, with only 59 ticks before the final buzzer.

Mantawi threatened at 88-92 and could have even pulled closer after M. Lhuillier's Michael Manigo was called for a five-second violation from the free throw line and muffed his second attempt, but the Traders' Morsie Akad committed a costly passing error.

Manigo later split his charities, before Mantawi's Jay-R Pepito converted a buzzer-beating shot to peg the final count. Manigo finished with 13 points, while Ocañada added 10 markers.

Almacin topped Mantawi with 19 points, while Sevilla added 16 but their efforts went for naught as the Traders crashed to their second straight defeat in as many games.

Mantawi's offensive backbone was greatly affected by the fouling out of ace center Rino Berame with 2:14 left in the regulation. The 6-foot-7 beanpole contributed 14 points, while the high-leaping Morsie Akad donated 12 in a losing cause.