M. Lhuillier pounds Grachiya five; Shineway wins

CEBU CITY–Back-to-back titlist M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu nailed its second victory in the 2003 Panasonic-National Basketball League Regional Cup tournament last Sunday by blasting newcomer Grachiya-Adamson, 78-60, at the New Cebu City Coliseum here.

Bruce Dacia shot nine of his 24 points in the third quarter to fuel a torrid breakaway that gave the Cebuanos a 11-point (56-45) lead going into the final quarter.

Earlier, defending champion Shineway Compak-Ozamiz bounced back from a tough loss to Lhuillier Saturday by trouncing Spring Cooking Oil- San Pablo, 93-82.

Lhuillier matched Ilocos Sur’s 2-0 card, while Ozamiz levelled its record at 1-1. Spring-San Pablo and Grachiya-Adamson are winless in two games in the tourney sponsored by Panasonic, BK Star Logistics, Molten, Sulpicio Lines and Nature’s Spring.

The Cebuanos were ahead only by five at the turn, 42-37, until Dacia sparked that third-quarter explosion.

Melfred Sampilo and Larry Rodriguez, who were held scoreless Saturday, combined for 23 big points in the first quarter Sunday to propel Ozamiz to a 32-23 lead which it never lost.

Sampilo topscored with 26 while Rodriguez added 14. Rolly Menor and Mario Reyes led Spring-San Pablo with 20 and 16, respectively.