M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu completed a three-game sweep of the elimination round, beating Ascof Lagundi, 87-73, yesterday in the first leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Niños and the Cough Busters, who finished 1-2 in the short elimination round, dispute the championship starting at 3:30 p.m. today at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.
Stephen Padilla topscored for the Niños for the third straight time with 17 points but it was Bruce Dacia who anchored the victory for the Niños, stringing up 10 straight points in the final period.
But Cebu coach Yayoy Alcoseba expects a tougher Ascof Lagundi in their clash today. Ascof finished the elims with a 2-1 record.
“It’s going to be much tougher,” Alcoseba said.
Games will be aired on a delayed basis on BTV.
For sweeping the elims, Cebu gained a two-point bonus and will get an additional 10 points if it beats Ascof Lagundi for the second straight day.
Robert Sanz hit a running jumper over Christian Luanzon to lift Treston Laguna to a 95-93 victory over Ani-FCA, 95-93, at the close of the elims of the first leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.
Former Magnolia guard Leomer Losentes fired 21 points, including a pair of charities that tied the count at 93 while Sanz finished with nine points for Treston Laguna, which posted its first win in three games in the inaugural staging of the tournament.
Treston Laguna and Ani FCA clash again today at 1:30 p.m. for third place honors at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.
M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu and Ascof Lagundi dispute the leg championship at 3:30 p.m.
Francis Mercado and RB Mangahas chipped in 17 and 16 points, respectively for Laguna.
Roel Hugnatan led the Cultivators anew with 18 points, including 12 in the second half, while Luanzon had 17.
Ani-FCA wound up with a 0-3 slate.
The Ninos and the Natural Cough Busters are playing as presstime with the winner to receive a two-point bonus for sweeping the elimination round. The champion will receive 10 points while the runner-up will get 10 points.
Cebu defeated Ani-FCA, 86-73, and Laguna, 81-70, behind Stephen Padilla and Mark Magsumbol while Ascof, with Sean Co, Vic Manuel and Edwin Asoro on the firing end, prevailed over Laguna, 89-85, and Ani-FCA, 91-88.
The scores:
First Game
Treston Laguna 95 - Losentes 21, Mercado 17, Mangahas 16, Sanz 9, Musni 9, Grijaldo 7, Angeles 7, Capati 4, Legaspi 3, Gloriosa 2, Ricafuerte 0, Antonio 0.
ANI-FCA 93 - Hugnatan 18, Luanzon 17, Bautista 12, Sena 10, Mirza 10, Custodio 7, Arao 7, Te 5, Dizon 4, Ong 3, Co 0.
Quarterscores: 15-26; 43-40; 73-68; 95-93
Second Game
M. Lhuillier Cebu 87 - Padilla 17, Dacia 15, Santos 13, Basco 10, Saladaga 10, Ybanez 7, Nailon 7, Magsumbol 6, Ababon 2, Cruz 0.
Ascof Lagundi 73 - Aguilar 10, Leynes 9, Labagala 8, Canlas 8, Taylor 7, Gamalinda 6, Smith 6, Maliksi 5, Manuel 5, Lanete 3, Uyloan 3, Co 3, Asoro 0, Mangahas 0.
Quarters: 19-10; 47-42; 61-60; 87-73.