Lhuillier relishes Cebu Niños' historic Liga Pilipinas feat

CEBU - Saying he almost ran out of words in describing the momentous feat of his team, M. Lhuillier big boss Michael J. Lhuillier personally conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-backed Cebu Niños of decorated coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba for clinching the first ever championship of the Liga Pilipinas.

“I am proud of you. What you did was very difficult to achieve. I don’t know if you can do it again, but you have already started it,” said Lhuillier in a lavish party celebrating their historic triumph the other night at Yayoy’s Grill and Resto Bar.

 “I’ve gone a long way in basketball and I know how hard it is to win a championship. Now, we’re in it,” added Lhuillier, who pitched in a punchline that he was a bit dazed with the trophies presented to him by the team in a single night, six all in all to be specific - a first in the annals of the M. Lhuillier franchise.

After ruling the Liga pre-season tournament, the Cebu Niños bagged all four Tour crowns and then completed a three-game sweep of Taguig Batang Global in the national finals to capture the inaugural Liga championship.

Overall, the Niños amassed a cumulative league-best 26-4 win-loss record, including a 9-1 slate in the playoffs and an immaculate 11-0 mark at home.

Thus, M. Lhuillier preserved its reputation for capturing the very first championships of several leagues that have been organized the last few years. They have the distinction of seizing the maiden titles in the National Basketball League (2003), United Regional Basketball League (2004) and Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (2006), cementing the team’s legacy as one of the most dominant ballclubs in Philippine basketball history.

“I hope you will stay with us and remain as a team. Believe me, we will go places,” said Lhuillier, drawing a warm round of applause from the full-packed audience who all basked in the glory of their monumental success.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael L. Rama, who was among the coterie of City officials who graced the affair, attibuted M. Lhuillier’s winning tradition to Alcoseba, whom he described as “a coach whose passion is beyond imagination.”

“On behalf of the City government of Cebu and Mayor Tommy Osmeña, I congratulate the Niños for winning the first ever Liga Pilipinas championship,” said Rama.

Meanwhile, Cebu will host a Liga Pilipinas pre-season tilt sometime in the middle or late October as a build up to the community-based league’s Second Conference in November. Unlike the pre-season games it hosted last May wherein only Vis-Min teams saw action, this tournament will hopefully draw entries from Luzon as well. – EBV (THE FREEMAN)