M. Lhuillier sweeps Pacman-Gen San

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Displeased with their lackluster performance in the first two quarters, M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu head coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba ordered his players to stripped off their uniforms during their halftime huddle, leaving them shivering for almost 10 minutes at their airconditioned dugout.

"They played without heart and effort in the first half that is why I ordered my players to strip off their uniforms during our halftime huddle. I told them if they continue to play with that kind of game, then they must not wear the M. Lhuillier uniform as well," Alcoseba said in a postgame interview.

"I challenged them that if you wan't to put up a good show, then pick up your uniforms and let's play," he added.

It turned out to be a decisive wake up call for Alcoseba's stalwarts.

The M. Lhuillier Jewelers banked on a scintillating second half assault to sweep Pacman-Gensan in their best-of-five finals series with a 93-80 victory in Game 3 and each their place in history as the very first champions of the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) First Conference last Sunday at the city gym here.

The Jewelers plunged into deep slumber in offense and defense in the first half, allowing Pacman of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao to take a 48-37 lead at the turn, behind the exploits of Jaypee Locsin, Louie Medalla, Dondon Tadena, and Apol Coronado.

Curiously, all of them except Locsin went scoreless in the crucial fourth quarter.

After being lectured by Alcoseba, the Cebu Jewelers rose to life thanks to a 15-2 run fueled by a triple by team captain Danny Aying. The steady-shooting forward sank another 3-pointer in that tide-turning rally capped by Niño Ramirez's three-point that handed M. Lhuillier a 57-52 lead.

Needing to sweep the remaining games of the series,PacMan held a precarious 68-65 lead early in the final period until the Jewelers detonated a 20-4 bomb behind the guard tandem of Mike Manigo and Finals MVP Woodrow Enriquez that gave them the lead for good, 85-72, with 3:06 left to play.

Overall, Enriquez and Manigo combined for 22 points in the final canto that saw the Jewelers outscore PacMan, 30-17.

Enriquez, son of former PBA player and M. Lhuillier assistant coach Alfredo Enriquez, exploded for a series-high 28 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter.

Manigo followed with 16 while three other Jewelers knocked in twin figures in Aying with 13 and regular season MVP Jayford Rodriguez and Aldrin Ocañada with 11 apiece.

Locsin, Coronado and Weng Farochillen paced PacMan with 15 markers each.

Tadena added 11.

"I want to thank our team owner Michel Lhuillier for believing in the concept of this league," said Alcoseba moments after being given the traditional victory ride by his players. "I hope more local governments in partnership with the private sector will join the next MVBA conference in September."

M. Lhuillier simply overpowered Pacman-Gensan, taking Games 1 (101-91) and 2 (92-81) last week at the Cebu Coliseum. Overall, the Jewelers lost only once in the four-month tournament - an 83-89 decision in Game One of the best-of-three Visayas Division Finals against Cebu Landmaster-Toledo last May 31.

The MVBA Finals and other games from the just-concluded conference may be seen over UHF channel Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN-47) and all its cable affiliates.

The MVBA ML Kwarta Padala First Conference was made possible by ML Kwarta Padala, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Nature's Spring Drinking Water, Gameface.ph, Molten, Panasonic and Sulpicio Lines.

The scores

M. Lhuillier-Cebu (93) - Enriquez 28, Manigo 16, Aying 13, Rodriguez 11, Ocañada 11, Llanto 7, Ramirez 5, Piodo 2

Pacman-Gensan (80) - Farochillen 15, Locsin 15, Coronado 15, Tadena 11, Medalla 7, Dennison 5, Sandoval 4, Jabagat 4, Cabanlit 2, Recustodio 2

Quarterscores:15-23, 37-48, 63-63, 93-80