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CEBU CITY — Misamis Oriental kept its fiery form to claim the first finals seat in the 4th leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) with a 98-68 rout over host Mandaue even as ANI-FCA finally scored its breakthrough win Wednesday at the Cebu Coliseum here.

The Meteors broke a tight first half with a big run in the third period as the team handled by coach Jun Noel streaked to its second straight win in the tournament jointly organized by Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas.

"I was disappointed with the way we played especially in the second quarter. Nawala sa sistema. So I told them to get back to our system and stick to our game plan and put pressure on the Mandaue guards," said Noel.

Drawing big games from its big men – James Sena and Ford Arao – ANI-FCA walloped MP Pacman GenSan, 104-82, in the first game.

The 6-foot-6 Sena topscored for the Cultivators with 18 points but it was Arao who shone brightest as he sparked a telling 16-0 run that enabled them to pull away for good.

Arao finished with 17 points while Earn Saguindel, Christian Luanzon and Jopher Custodio combined for 22 points.

"It really feels good," said ANI-FCA coach Arsenio Dysangco of their first win in the event sponsored by Air21, Molten, Ascof Lagundi, Agrinurture, Treston College, Burlington and Basketball TV.

The win ended ANI-FCA’s 12-game losing run, including seven during its PBL debut last March. With the win, the Cultivators are now tied with the Warriors of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao at 1-1.

Former UAAP scoring champion Patrick Cabahug had 18 points on 9-of-17 shooting to lead another well-balanced attack of the Meteors whose 30-point winning margin is the biggest so far in the four-week-old tournament.

The Meteors of Gov. Oscar Moreno can sweep the elims with a win over Gensan Thursday night.

The scores:

First Game

ANI-FCA 104 — Sena 18, Arao 17, Hugnatan 13, Bautista 13, Saguindel 9, Luanzon 7, Custodio 6, Sevilla 5, Membrere 5, Co 4, Berry 4, Mirza 3, Cagoco 0.

MP Pacman GenSan 82 - Gonzaga 18, Medalla 17, Parreno 11, Coronado 10, Farochilen 8, Daja 4, Callo 4, Yambao 4, Nicdao 2, Bucao 2, Concepcion 2, Legada 0, Omandam 0, Sagad 0.

Quarters: 25-31; 52-46; 77-65; 104-82.

Second Game

Mis-Or 98 — Cabahug 18, Raneses 17, Misa 14, Lamocha 14, Taganas 12, Moreno 10, Saldua 5, Daa 4, Butel 2, Tagupa 2, Lucernas 2, Munoz 0, Morial 0, Andaya 0.

Mandaue 68 — Gerilla 13, Laygo 9, Latonio 8, Zanoria 7, Diputado 5, Dennison 5, Gavina 5, Gabas 4, Caputolan 4, Berami 3, Magdadaro 2, Villaver 2, Ursal 1, Larong 0.

Quarters: 22-14, 36-33, 64-48, 98-68.

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