MANILA, Philippines - M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu hosts four other teams which topped the grueling series of qualifiers in the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Super Leg championship which fires off today at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City.
The Niños, who emerged the conference’s best team, battle the third-seeded Quezon Red Oilers in the 7 p.m. main game after the 5 p.m. match between No. 4 Misamis Oriental and second seed Smart-Pampanga.
No. 6 Trace-Laguna completes the Super Leg cast.
“The competition will be fiercer and we expect very tough games ahead,” said Liga Pilipinas Basketball operations head Butch Antonio at the press conference at the Crown Regency Hotel’s Café Glo yesterday.
The Niños finished with a perfect 16-0 record in this conference to grab the first automatic slot in the Super Leg, while the Buddies took the second the slot from the Red Oilers after sweeping their Apayao assignment, edging Quezon by a point, 36 against 35.
The Oilers booked the third slot after eliminating the General Santos City’s MP Warriors while the Meteors booted out the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters and the Stallions defeated fifth seed Forward Taguig Batang Global twice to advance.
The opening ceremonies will start at 3 p.m. to be highlighted by the introduction of the Ms. Liga Pilipinas candidates with CEO Noli Eala declaring the games open.
The five teams will play a single round robin series with the No.1 team clinching an automatic slot in the finals set Sunday. The No. 2 and No. 3 teams will dispute the second finals seat in a knockout match.
The Super Leg is supported by Smart, Accel, Molten, Molten, ML Kwarta Padala, Burlington, Biofresh, Calcium Cee, Gatorade, San Miguel Beer, Air 21, Casino Ethyl Alcohol and Omega Pain Killer.