Niños annex Quezon leg

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños fashioned out a 67-62 victory over the Quezon Red Oilers to rule the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Quezon Province leg Saturday. 

The victory was the Niños’ third straight leg championship this conference and ninth overall since the league began last year with Cebu hiking its league-best eliminations points total to 45 out of a possible 45.

That virtually clinched for the Cebu-based squad one of the two slots in the Super Leg-Super Five phase, which will determine the Liga National Championship in November.

The Red Oilers picked up seven points to move up in the rankings and tie idle Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue in sixth with eight points apiece heading into the wildcard phase where the third to eighth place teams will play for three berths in the Super Leg.

The Red Oilers were forced to go on a fouling spree to stop the clock but the Niños proved steadier from the line with power forward Ariel Mepana and veteran guard Stephen Padilla making four free throws in the last 30 seconds to clinch the win for Cebu, its 12th in as many starts.

With its third consecutive sweep, Cebu thus primed itself up for the rare Golden 60, a perfect record in its four legs.

Bruce Dacia scored a field goal and Woodraw Enriquez and Ian Saladaga added a free throw each to give the Niños a 60-54 cushion entering the final two minutes.