MVBA Visayas Division Finals: Toledo sweeps Mantawi

The Cebu Landmaster-Toledo turned to its veteran crew at crunchtime to escape with a 66-63 win over the Mantawi Traders and advance to the Visayas Division finals of the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) First Conference on Sunday the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex. Game today (MSU-IIT Gym, Iligan City) 5:30 pm Iligan Archangels vs. PacMan-GenSan

Toledo swept the best-of-three series, 2-0.

Pointguard Maui Huelar hit a triple to shatter a 61-61 deadlock with 37 seconds to play, 64-61.

Mantawi countered with a twisting layup by Kim Calo to close in by a point at the final 20-second mark, 63-64.

Carlos Sayon quickly drew a foul from Joseph Guangco, splitting his free throws for a 65-63 count.

In the key moment of the game, Randy Sevilla bungled a running shot with Leo Bat-og collaring the defensive rebound plus a hard foul from Sevilla with four ticks remaining.

Bat-og calmly split his free throws for the final tally as the Traders failed to put up a shot in their final play.

Sayon topped Toledo with 15 points followed by Huelar with 13. Calo paced Mantawi with 19 markers followed by Sevilla and Doroteo Almacin with 10 each.

The intense and emotional contest saw both teams battle through eight deadlocks and seven lead changes.

Cebu Landmaster of realtor Joe Soberano and coach Jun Tan will now face the undefeated M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Jewelers of Michel Lhuillier and coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba in a best-of-three series for the Visayas Division crown in the league backed by ML Kwarta Padala, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Nature's Spring Drinking Water, Panasonic, Molten and Sulpicio Lines.

The Jewelers defeated the Toyota-Iloilo Warriors in the semifinals also via two-game sweep.

Game 1 of the best-of-three Mindanao Division finals between the top seed Iligan Archangels of Mayor Lawrence Cruz and second seed PacMan-GenSan of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will be played today at the MSU-IIT Gym starting at 5:30 pm.

The champions of both divisions will face off next month in a best-of-five series for the historic first ever MVBA championship.

The scores

Toledo (66) - Sayon 15, Huelar 13, Cainglet 9, Ursal 9, Bat-og 9, Mangubat 4, Paraiso 3, Laborte 2, Saladaga 2

Mantawi (63) - Calo 19, Almacin 10, Sevilla 10, Akad 7, Berame 5, Garcia 4, Lozano 4, Pepito 3, Ducay 1

Quarterscores:13-13, 29-34, 49-48, 66-63