Gems clip Eagles, climb to third place

GEN. SANTOS City — The Cebu Gems shackled the Davao Eagles early, coasting to a 112-90 victory yesterday and moving to third place in the first phase of the MBA at the Gen. Santos City Coliseum here.

Putting the clamps on Davao’s top gunner Mika Manigo, the Gems seized control right in the first quarter, sat on a 52-28 cushion at the turn before cruising to their secoind straight victory after dropping their inaugural game to the Negros Slashers.

Matt Mitchell again paced the Gems with 20 points and 11 rebounds and drew big games from Peter Naron, Homer Se and Stephen Padilla as they humbled the Eagles on their turf for their second straight setback.

Former PBA player Al Solis opened the game with a triple as the Gems took a 9-0 lead they never relinquished.

Although the Eagles scored the next seven points to move within two, the Gems countered with another 24-7 run before sustaining the attack en route to building a 76-44 bulge with 3:53 left in the third period.

The Gems scored a total of 10 triples, four each from Solis and Padilla and one each from Roy Lura and Naron. They had also three "Blitz-3" points, two from Homer Se and one from Solis.