CEBU, Philippines - The M. Lhuillier ballclub etched another historic feat in its storied franchise after the ML Kwarta Padala-backed Cebu Niños ran over the hard-fighting MisOr Meteors, 78-76, in the deciding match of their best-of-five finals series to clinch the first ever championship of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) before a large throng of spectators last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Emotions ran high in the highly-physical battle that resulted into several unsportsmanlike fouls, bench technicals and double fouls, leaving the crowd as if they were inside a suspense theater.
When the smoke cleared, the Niños stonewall defense, never-say-die spirit and big fighting heart prevailed in what was described by M. Lhuillier coach non-pareil as their hardest championship conquest, thus far.
"It was the hardest because the last time our team owner Señorito Michel Lhuillier and his family watched our championship game, we we're so embarrased because we lost (to the same team MisOr Meteors). This time, I told my boys that we will not let them down and I am very happy they did it," said an obviously elated Alcoseba.
The Niños greeted the game with a 10-0 bang, which they parlayed into a 15-point bulge at 32-17 with still 8:11 left in the second period. It was at this point the game started to get rough when M. Lhuillier center Ariel Mepaña bloodied Khiel Misa's nose with a clothesline tackle.
Moments later, Cebu's Abby Santos was whistled for an unsportmanlike foul for throwing an errant elbow on Mark Andaya.
Tension further broke out at the 4:56 mark of the third period after MisOr's Ronald Lamocha and Cebu's Mark Ababon got entangled in a nasty scuffle. In the aftermath, both bench were assessed with technicals and unsportsmanlike fouls.
Two more unsporstmanlike infraction came in the final period against M. Lhuillier's Mark Magsumbol and Marlon Basco, but the Meteors could not capitalize on the situation because of their paltry free-throw shooting.
Still, creit was due on the Meteors as they never gave the Niños some breathing space until the final buzzer.
Trailing by five, 75-70, with only 58 seconds left to play, the Meteors stayed in the thick of the fight when Patrick Cabahug knocked in back-to-back triples in spectacular fashion to pull the visiting MisOr within just a hairline, 76-77.
After Froilan Baguion split his charities to make it 78-76 for the Niños with 17 seconds to go, the Meteors still have plenty of time to forge an overtime, or perhaps steal the win, but Cabahug and Eder Saldua bugled two conseutive close-range shots as the gameblock expired to the delight of the entire M. Lhuillier bench and their multitude of well-wishers.
"This victory reaffirms our championship tradition. You can never underestimate the heart of a champion. It also reflects M. Lhuillier's main corporate thrust to be always number one," said Alcoseba.
Basco topscored for the Niños with 15 points, while Stephen Padilla, who romped off with the inaugural MVP award in the TOP, banged in 12 markers followed by Mepaña with 11. (FREEMAN)