Lhuillier Gems scuttle Marlins, post first win

Cebuana Lhuillier drew big games from its key players as the Gems scuttled the Socsargen Marlins, 114-99, yesterday in a record-setting romp to barge into the win column after dropping its opening day game in the first phase of the MBA at the Rizal Memorial College Gym in Davao.

Matthew Mitchell, Peter Naron, Stephen Padilla and Homer Se stood at the forefront of Cebu’s charge as they combined for all but 21 of the Gems’ output for the win that somehow erased the stigma of their frustrating 91-95 loss to the Negros Slashers last Saturday.

The Gems used a torrid scoring run right in the first quarter as they scored practically at will en route to posting a league record of 46 points for most points scored in a quarter.

Mitchell, who lost to LBC Batangas’ Rommel Adducul in the 2000 MVP derby, set the pace for the Gems with a three-point play and the game’s first "Blitz 3" for a 46-20 lead after the first quarter. — Joey Villar