M.Lhuillier wins Liga Cebu pre-season

CEBU, Philippines - Spunky guard Woodrow Enriquez nailed crucial free throws and hit bigtime shots when the game was on the line to steer the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Jewelers to a 71-61 triumph over the MisOr Meteors and clinch the Cebu pre-season games title of Smart-Liga Pilipinas before a sizeable crowd last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Earlier, the Trace-Laguna Stallions crushed the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters, 86-77, to settle for third place honors in the four-day tilt that served as a runup to the Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 set to open on August 19 also at the Coliseum.

Enriquez netted a game-high 18 points, including seven straight at the final four-minute mark of the contest that bailed the Jewelers of team owner Michel J. Lhuillier and coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba out of danger.

The Jewelers enjoyed as much as 14 points lead twice, the last was at 48-34 count midway in the third period as the Meteors fought back with finesse to pull within two points on Niel Rañeses’ freebies with 1:21 left in that stretch.

The Jewelers replied with a 9-0 blast to restore a 62-51 edge. The Meteors threatened for the last time at 61-64 with 2:36 left to play as Enriquez converted a lightning-quick layup and completed a three-point play to give M. Lhuillier a 69-61 breather. A basket by Bruce Dacia settled the final tally.

“We want to make a statement that we can beat the Meteors. This will gauge as a team for the coming conference,” said Alcoseba, who revealed that he will still be recruiting three more players to boost up his roster.

Four other Jewelers cashed in double figures with Marlo Basco drilling in 17 points. Stephen Padilla and Dacia each had 12 markers, while Ariel Mepaña chipped in 11.

Rañeses topped MisOr with 18 markers followed by Cebuano guard Patrick John Cabahug with 14.

The scores

M. Lhuillier (71) – Enriquez 18, Basco 17, Dacia 12, Padilla 12, Mepaña 11, Nailon 8, Berami 7, Ababon 6

MisOr (61) – Rañeses 18, Cabahug 14, Mamaclay 9, Daja 7, Pupos 5, Moreño 4, Butel 4 (THE FREEMAN)