M. Lhuillier KP-Cebu enhanced its status as one of the premier amateur basketball squads yesterday by ruling the first leg of the Tournament of the Philippines – the joint venture of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas.

With their vaunted firepower in full display right from the start, the Cebu Niños overpowered the Ascof Lagundi Cough Busters, 83-70, at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym.

The win was doubly sweet for the Mighty Niños as they kept their unblemished record intact.

Counting their 21-game winning run in sweeping the Liga Conference III last year, the Niños stretched their streak to 25 – the longest in recent history.

Unlike in their first three games, Cebu seized the initiative early behind the power plays of Marlon Basco and the torrid sniping of Stephen Padilla and Bruce Dacia before turning on the heat in the second quarter to rip the game wide open.

Basco was almost unstoppable as he exploded for 25 points while Padilla, who bagged the MVP plum, and Dacia combined for 26 points as the Niños beat the Cough Busters for the second straight day.

"Mas maganda na ang nilaro namin ngayon unlike in our previous games," said coach Yayosa Alcoseba, whose team secured a total of 15 points after gaining 10 points for completing a four-game sweep of the leg.

"I believe we're going to play much better now that we got our conditioning back,” added Alcoseba, who also drew big performance from veteran guard Warren Ybanez.

Padilla had his lowest output of the leg with just 12 points but came away with three triples in the payoff period. This came after sitting most of the third canto that saw the Pascual Laboratories franchise pull within 53-47 after falling behind by 17 points in the second quarter, 44-27.

The next leg will be held in General Santos City where boxing idol and newly-elected Sarangani congressman Manny Pacquiao is expected to play for his team the
In the first game, Treston Laguna outlasted Ani-FCA in overtime, 94-87, to snatch third place.

Alex Angeles put the Stallions out of trouble in the extra period by hitting an open trey from the right corner with 56 seconds remaining to gain an 89-87 lead, then watched the Cultivators self-destruct to seal the win – their second over Ani in two days.

For finishing third in the first leg of the joint venture of the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas, the squad of coach Nomar Isla gained three points for a total of four points.

The scores:

First Game

TRESTON LAGUNA 94 - Losentes 26, Ricafuerte 18, Angeles 16, Capati 7, Legaspi 7, Sanz 5, Bolocon 5, Mercado 4, Musni 2, Mangahas 2, Grijaldo 2, Glorioso 0.

ANI-FCA 87 - Hugnatan 25, Bautista 14, Custodio 14, Mirza 9, Sena 7, Dizon 6, Arao 5, Te 4, Luanzon 2, Membrere 1, Ong 0.

Quarters: 18-31; 44-46; 67-64; 80-80 (OT); 94-87 (Final).

Second Game

M. LHUILLIER CEBU 83 - Basco 25, Dacia 14, Padilla 12, Ybanez 7, Santos 7, Magsumbol 7, Mepana 6, Nailon 2, Saladaga 2, Ababon 1.

ASCOF LAGUNDI 70 - Gamalinda 19, Co 13, Aguilar 10, Labagala 10, Uyloan 5, Smith 3, Asoro 3, Taylor 3, Canlas 2, Manuel 2, Leynes 0.

Quarters: 22-10; 44-27; 53-47; 83-70.