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| Cebu,
Ascof set title clash (06/11/2010) |
| M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu and Ascof Lagundi rolled to their second straight wins yesterday to arrange a dream title showdown in the first leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Cebu Niños recovered from a sloppy start to beat Treston Laguna, 81-70, while the Cough Busters banked on the heroics of Sean Co to pull off a pulsating 91-88 victory over Agrinurture-FCA in the second game. Co fired 14 points, including a completed three-point off Christian Luanzon’s foul with 14.4 ticks left that gave them the lead, 89-88. After Agrinurture’s Boyet Bautista bungled a jumper, Co sealed the win with two charities with only 3.1 seconds left. Today’s showdown between Cebu and Ascof Lagundi will just be a preview of their title match slated tomorrow. It was again Stephen Padilla, Warren Ybanez and Mark Magsumbol who presided over the team’s onslaught as they all scored in double figures – most of them in the second quarter where the Niños outscored the Stallions, 22-15, to pull away for good. With the victory, the Niños extended their winning streak to 23 counting the 21 they piled up in sweeping Liga Conference III last year. Padilla topscored the Niños for the second straight game with 15 points – just half of his output when he helped the team beat Agrinurture-FCA, 86-73, in the opening day of the tournament sponsored by Air21, Molten, Ascof Lagundi, Agrinurture, Treston College, Burlington and Basketball TV. "We're just 75 percent of our true form," said coach Yayoy Alcoseba. "Ito na naman, slow start kami at saka hirap kaming mag-adjust sa aircon, tagal mag-init yung mga players. I think we'll do better in our last two games." Padilla had only two triples this time after exploding for eight the last time. The Niños can sweep the elimination round if they beat Ascof Lagundi, which is playing Ani-FCA as of presstime. The Niños dominated the boards, 56-27, and had more second chance points, 25-11. Glenn Bolocon, Rob Sanz, Francis Mercado and Leomer Losentes all scored 10 points to lead the Laguna cagers, who fell to 0-2. The scores: First Game M. LHUILLIER CEBU 81 - Padilla 15, Magsumbol 14, Ybanez 13, Basco 11, Dacia 8, Ababon 7, Santos 4, Cruz 4, Saladaga 3, Mepaña 2, Nailon 0. TRESTON LAGUNA 70 - Sanz 10, Bolocon 10, Losentes 10, Mercado 10, Grijaldo 8, Mangahas 7, Ricafuerte 7, Angeles 3, Legaspi 3, Capati 2. Quarters: 21-23; 45-36; 60-53; 81-70. Second Game ASCOF LAGUNDI 91 - Gamalinda 21, Co 18, Labagala 15, Manuel 8, Smith 7, Asoro 6, Canlas 5, Mangahas 3, Aguilar 3, Uyloan 2, Taylor 0, Maliksi 0. ANI-FCA 88 - Mirza 16, Luanzon 14, Ong 12, Te 9, Custodio 8, Bautista 7, Sena 7, Co 6, Dizon 5, Hugnatan 4, Robles 0, Canuday 0. Quarters: 28-22; 51-45; 66-68; 91-88.
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