Cebu, Quezon seize Liga semis openers

MANILA, Philippines - Defending national champion M. Lhuillier-Cebu stunned host Trace-Laguna, 79-72, to gain the headstart in their best-of-five semifinal series in the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference II at the Trace College gym in Los Baños, Laguna late Thursday.

Over at the Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City, Alex Orias banged in a last-second jumper as Quezon stunned top seed Misamis Oriental, 65-64, in their own side of the semis duel.

Bruce Dacia combined with Stephen Padilla and Ariel Mepana in a big fourth quarter run as the Niños broke away from a tight 54-52 count to post a 70-59 with 2:44 left in the contest.

Samuel Ekwe and Jerwin Gaco tried to rally the Stallions but to no avail as Woodraw Enriquez and Padilla knocked in clutch free throws to preserve the win for the Cebuanos.

Dacia led the Niños with 20 points while Santos tossed in 19 points.

The Stallions drew 19 points from Gaco, who also had four rebounds while Ekwe posted a double-double job of 12 points and 17 rebounds.

Winners in the two semis series will clash for the Conference II championship beginning April 14. 

The Liga Pilipinas playoffs is backed by Smart, ML Kwarta Padala, Accel, Air21, Burlington, Laptop Phoneshop Exchange, Nature’s Spring Water and Molten and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).