MANILA, Philippines - The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Niños and the MisOr Meteors once again rolled over their respective rivals to set up a championship showdown in the Cebu swing of the Smart-Liga Pilipinas pre-season games last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Games today
(Cebu Coliseum)
5 pm Cebu Landmasters
vs. Trace-Laguna
7:00 pm MisOr vs. M. Lhuillier
The Niños squandered a 26-point lead, but restored an oven-hot offensive in the closing minutes of the contest to hack out a 90-71 demolition of the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters, while the Meteors blew hot and cold before getting rid of the stubborn Trace-Laguna Stallions, 84-82.
With similar 2-0 slates, the Niños and the Meteors are already assured of a title duel, making today’s games both non-bearing.
The Niños took a commanding 52-26 advantage early in the third period, but the gritty Landmasters staged a courageous fightback to pull within four points, 59-63, with 7:58 left in the game.
That proved to be the Landmasters' last stand at the Niños shot back with a blistering 14-3 rally to practically put the win in their back, 77-62 at the final three-minute mark.
Earlier, the Meteors opened an early 26-13 lead but the Stallions countered with a 23-10 rally in the second canto to forge a 36-all deadlock at halftime.
The Meteors regained a dozen-point edged, 62-50, but the Stallions staged a 17-2 run bridging the third and fourth periods to wrest the driver’s seat, 67-64, with still seven minutes left to play.
The Meteors replied with a 17-8 burst to regain the upperhand, 81-75, entering the final two-minute mark of the contest.
The Stallions threatened for the last time at 82-84 with still a minute remaining.
After an errant play by the Meteors, the Stallions could have won the match, but Ricky Ricafuente’s 3-point attempt was way off the target as the gameclock expired.
Lyndon Gudez topscored for the Meteors with 13 points, while Mark Moreño, Melvin Mamaclay and Patrick Cabahug chipped in 11 markers apiece.
The scores
First game
MisOr (84) — Gudez 13, Moreño 11, Cabahug 11, Mamaclay 11, Rañeses 10, Muños 7, Butel 6, Daja 5, Numeran 4, Kong 2, Clavel 2, Sanchez 2
Laguna (82) — Gaco 25, Sanz 20, Ricafuente 18, Grijaldo 11, Tolentino 4, Capati 4
Second game
M. Lhuillier (90) — Dacia 23, Enriquez 19, Basco 12, Padilla 9, Cainglet 8, Santos 6, Ababon 5, Malinao 4, Nailon 4, Berame 2
Cebu Landmasters (71) — Lusdoc 19, Latonio 17, Aying 7, Llanto 7, Abadia 6, Tangkay 5, Omolon 4, Ponce 3, Paradiang 2, France 1—EBV