Eagles claw Gems, boost semis bid

DAVAO CITY – The Professional Davao Eagles bared their sharpest form yet and routed the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, 97-75, Friday night to boost their drive for a semifinals berth in the MBA First Conference at the RMC Gym here.

With a six-win, three-loss card, the Eagles climbed to second place in the Southern Conference, overtaking their victims, who dropped to 5-3.

Mike Manigo presided over the Eagles’ demolition job with a well-rounded performance that earned him best player honors. He wound up with 19 points, five rebounds, eight assists, three steals and one block as the Eagles avenged their 107-103 defeat to the Gems on April 8.

Apart from Manigo, Eagles coach Bong Go also drew fine performances from Bong Marata, Peter June Simon, Billy Mamaril, Jon Dan Salvador and Cid White.

Marata came up with 17 points, 10 rebounds and two steals, while Simon also had 17 points and two steals for the Eagles, who led by as many as 27 points (69-42) late in the third quarter. Mamaril contributed 12 points, Salvador 11 and White eight apart from 11 rebounds.

The Eagles will assure themselves of a semifinal stint if they win over the Osaka Pangasinan Waves in their final elimination round assignment on May 11.

It was the worst defeat suffered by the Gems thus far since Francis Rodriguez, who formerly handled the Eagles, took over as coach.

Bruce Dacia topscored for the Gems with 15 points, followed by Melvin Taguines with 12, Egay Echavez 11 and Stephen Padilla 10.

The MBA goes to the Lipa Cultural Center today with pacesetting Olongapo (5-2) tackling also-ran Pampanga (1-7) at 1 p.m. and Osaka Pangasinan battling LBC Batangas at 3:30 p.m.