Cebu
too strong for Ascof Lagundi
by Jonas Terrado for philippinebasketball.ph (06/12/2010)
Games Today
(Emilio Aguinaldo College gym)
1:30 p.m. — Treston-Laguna vs Ani-FCA (3rd place)
3:30 p.m. — M. Lhuillier Cebu vs Ascof Lagundi (Championship)
M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu completed a three-game
sweep of the elimination round with an emphatic 87-73 win over Ascof
Lagundi in the first leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP)
yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
But their smashing win – their 24th straight since
winning 21 in sweeping the Liga Conference III last year – will
just go down the drain if they the Niños fail to lift the championship
trophy tomorrow.
The Niños and the Cough Busters, who finished 1-2
in the short elimination round, dispute the championship today at
the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym starting at 3:30 p.m.
Though it was Stephen Padilla who topscored for the
Niños for the third straight time, it was Bruce Dacia who made the
difference, stringing up 10 straight points in the payoff period
to help put the game beyond recall.
Cebu coach Yayoy Alcoseba was not worried whether
Ascof Lagundi is hiding “something” in time for today’s title clash,
saying: “Dito kasi sa game na ito nagkaalaman na kami ng laro.”
But Alcoseba expects a new Ascof Lagundi to show
up today in the event backed by Air21, Molten, Ascof Lagundi, Agrinurture,
Treston College, Burlington and Basketball TV. Ascof finished the
elims with a 2-1 record.
“It’s going to be much tougher,” Alcoseba added.
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 provided it beats the Pascual
Laboratories franchise for the second straight day.
Padilla logged 17 markers while Dacia added 14.
In the first game, Treston Laguna leaned on the heroics
of former pro Robert Sanz to beat Ani-FCA, 95-93, for its first
win in three games.
Sanz broke a 93-all count when he threw an awkward
runner off the outstretched arms of Christian Luanzon to help the
Stallions register their first win in three games.
The victory also gave Laguna enough momentum heading
into their return clash with the Cultivators today at the Emilio
Aguinaldo College with the leg's third place trophy at stake.
"At least we were able to get the win. We'll
try to take third place to gain more points," said coach Nomar
Isla.