M. Lhuillier completes 8-0 sweep in MVBA tilt

The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Jewelers weathered a spirited endgame resistance by West Negros College-Talisay City Mustangs to squeeze out a close 88-85 win and stretch their unbeaten record to eight in the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association on Sunday at the Talisay City Gym in Negros Occidental.

Aldrin Ocañada topscored for the first time for M. Lhuillier with 17 points, while Jayford Rodriguez added 15 markers as the Jewelers assured themselves of the top spot in the Visayas Division semifinals after completing an eight-game elimination round sweep.

Unlike in their previous meeting, the Jewelers of businessman-sportsman Michel Lhuillier and coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba found the Mustangs a tough costumer to handle this time as host WNC gamely recovered from a 13-point deficit at halftime, 44-31, and threatened M. Lhuillier on several occasions.

The Mustangs outscored M. Lhuillier in the final half, 54-44, but the Jewelers used their vast experience and maturity to hang on to a three-point victory - their closest winning margin in the league backed by ML Kwarta Padala, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Molten, Panasonic, Nature's Spring Drinking Water, and Sulpicio Lines.

Danny Aying added 13 points followed by Niño Ramirez with 11 for the Jewelers.

Ely Olarte and Bejie Vergara fired 21 points apiece, but had little help from the rest of their teammates as the WNC Mustangs crashed to their sixth straight defeat in as many games.

The WNC Mustangs will take on the Toyota-Iloilo Warriors today at 5:30 pm hoping to chalk up their first win in the league and stave off early exit.

In Cagayan de Oro City, PacMan-GenSan displayed extreme fighting spirit to turn back Pryce Pharma-MisOr, 72-64, and level their best-of-three Mindanao Division semifinal series at 1-1.

Trailing by four markers after the first period,16-20, PacMan center Weng Farochillen unloaded nine points on two triples in the second period and power forward Jaypee Locsin added five to outscore Pryce Pharma, 23-11, and take a 39-31 edge at halftim, a lead they never relinquished.

Farochillen led PacMan with 15 points spiked with four triples followed by Tadena with 13. James Laygo paced Pryce Pharma with 13 followed by Marvin Mercado with 12, six coming in the first period.

Game 3 will be on May 14 at the General Santos City Gym, with the winner advancing to the Mindanao Division Finals against the winner of the Iligan Archangels versus Montana-Davao series currently tied at 1-1.

Games today

(Talisay City, Negros Occidental) 5:30 pm West Negros College vs. Toyota-Iloilo Warriors

The scores

First game

M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala (88) - Ocañada 17, Rodriguez 15, Aying 13, Ramirez 11, Piodo 8, Caputolan 8, Enriquez 5, Tangarorang 4, Mepaña 3, Manigo 2, Llanto 2

West Negros College-Talisay City (85) - Olarte 21, Vergara 21, Espiritu 10, Tizon 8, Quilantang 8, Laurenio 8, Villarin 7, Dapar 2

Quarterscores:17-10, 44-31, 67-56, 88-85

Second game

Pacman-GenSan (72) - Farochillen 15, Tadena 13, Locsin 12, Coronado 10, Medalla 8, Recustodio 4, Sandoval 4, Jabagat 3, Dennison 2, Deligero 1

Pryce Pharma-MisOr (64) - Laygo 13, Mercado 12, Numeran 11, Mendoza 7, Tagupa 6, Lumantas 5, Carretas 4, Redulosa 2, Alfeche 2, Saludsod 2 Quarterscores:16-20, 39-31, 59-47, 72-64