CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Defending national champion M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños and the Quezon Red Oilers survived a pair of thrillers, fittingly on a Friday the 13th, to arrange a title showdown for the Misamis Oriental leg of the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference II at the Xavier U gym.
Cebu showed its veteran poise in the end game to knock out the host MisOr Meteors from the leg finals with a close 61-58 win. The Niños’ victory completed the woes of home teams in the 11 stops of the tour format-elims with no home team winning its own leg. Earlier, Quezon needed extra time to defeat the tough Iloilo Mang Inasals, 90-88, and enter its third straight leg finals.
Slotman Arden Guiyab emerged an unlikely hero as he nailed the winning basket from the left corner with four seconds to play to give the Red Oilers a 90-80 win over Iloilo.
Iloilo coach Jerry Jaranilla called a timeout but Stanley Tizon launched a harried triple that went nowhere.
Earlier, Guiyab gave the Red Oilers a two-point edge with a free throw off the final foul of Francis Barcellano, 88-86, and 1:11 on the clock. Eugene Tan then tied the game for the last time at the 26-second mark on two free throws off the fifth and final foul of Hafer Mondragon, 88-88.
The Niños and Red Oilers faced off for the Manila Leg crown last February 21, with the Niños of Michel Lhuillier prevailing, 93-84. Both teams shoot for their second leg title in this conference supported by Smart, ML Kwarta Padala, Accel, Burlington, Air 21, Nature’s Spring, Laptop Phoneshop Exchange and Molten and supervised by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
First Game
QUEZON 90 - Labagala 17, Canizares 14, Macanig 13, Raymundo 13, Williams 8, Garcia 7, Mondragon 6, Guiyab 5, Orias 3, Suguitan 2, Chua 2, de Leon 0, Pinera 0._
ILOILO 88 - Laborte 20, Abaring 15, Tan 13, Senierez 11, Barcellano 10, Garrido 8, Tizon 6, Vergara 5, Gono 0, Manajero 0.
Quarterscores: 23-15, 41-37, 64-62, 81-81 (reg.), 90-88 (OT).
Second Game
CEBU 61 - Basco 16, Dacia 14, Enriquez 12, Padilla 6, Aying 5, Cavan 4, Ababon 2, Santos 2, Tangkay 0, Mepana 0, Berame 0, Dizon 0._
MISAMIS ORIENTAL 58 - Yee 17, Kong 10, Moreno 9, Tagupa 7, Paterno 4, Munoz 3, Daja 3, Sanchez 3, Mente 2, Latoreno 0, Butel 0, Micutuan 0._
Quarterscores: 12-13, 30-30, 46-41, 61-58.