Niños, Pacman down foes in Liga opener

CEBU, Philippines - The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Niños of Michel J. Lhuillier and coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba frittered away after posting an imposing 25-advantage early in the third period, but turned to hot hands of Marlon Basco and Richard Ian Saladaga in the closing minutes of the contest to defeat the gritty Trace-Laguna Stallions, 78-65, yesterday at the start of the Cebu leg of the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

Earlier, the Gensan-Pacman MP Warriors of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao unleashed a furious third-quarter assault to drain the Quezon Red Oilers, 81-65.

Saladaga returned to M. Lhuillier’s fold with a bang, finishing with 20 points. Bruce Dacia, who stoked the early offensive fire for the Niños, added 17 points followed by Woodrow Enriquez with 16.

The Niños staged a lighting attack at the onset, cashing in 25 points while limiting the Stallions to a measly seven points. In that stretch, the host team show 10-of-14 from the field, while in stark contrast, the Laguna visitors just made three of their 19 attempts.

M. Lhuillier’s lead ballooned to 50-25, but the Stallions countered with a blistering 20-2 rally to pull within seven points, 45-52, with 3:15 left in the third period.

The gallant Stallions of coach Nomar Isla even came closer at 59-65, but Basco hit a wide open triple and then Saladaga completed a three-point play to keep the Niños’ heads above the water, 71-60, heading into the final three minutes of the contest.

The Stallions could have added thrill to the close contest but blew their chances as they shot a paltry 2-of-8 from the foul line underneath the final six-minute mark.

Ricky Ricafuente paced the Stallions with a game-high 22 points, while Gerwin Gaco added 13 markers. (THE FREEMAN)