Niños face Landmasters in TOP tuneup

CEBU, Philippines - Two-time Liga Pilipinas national champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños of legendary coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba take another vital step in fine-tuning the team as they play against the Mandaue City Landmasters in an exhibition match at 6 pm this Saturday at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

The Niños-Landmasters showdown serves as the final phase of their rigid preparations for the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP), a joint venture of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas set to take off on June 9 in Manila.

Save for a few additions in Fil-Am guard Shawn Weinstein whom they picked in the Rookie Draft and comebacking playmaker Warren Ybañez, the Niños will parade the same lineup that ruled the Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 via an amazing 21-game winning streak.

They are Bruce Dacia, Stephen Padilla, Abby Santos, Marlon Basco, Ariel Mepaña, Mark Magsumbol, Mark Ababon, Hafer Mondragon, Nat Cruz, and Franklin Nailon. Star guard Woodrow Enriquez is out of commission as he is still recuperating from a cervical injury.

The Landmasters of team owner Joe Soberano and head coach Al Solis, on the other hand, are still in the process of building up a strong fighting crew although Solis said they have already spotted a mixture of collegiate stars and commercial veterans to form the core of the team.

Among them, Solis said, are Jet Latonio, Alano Caputolan, Rino Berami, Michael Luga, Ronald Bucao and collegiate standouts in Chris Victor Diputado and Ritchum Dennison of the UV Lancers and Eric Zanoria of the SWU Cobras.They will be reinforced by big men John Villaver and Jay-R Gerilla.

Landmasters team manager Atty. Hidelito Pascual said their game against M. Lhuillier would also serve as their final try-out.

“We find the core of our team already but our game against M. Lhuillier will serve as our final try-out. After that, then maybe we will announce our line-up on Monday at the latest,” said Pascual.  – THE FREEMAN