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| Cebu posts 30th win (07/22/2010) |
| M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu extended its remarkable winning run to 30 yesterday by blasting host Cobra Energy Drink, 104-81, at the start of the seventh leg of the Tournament of the Philippines yesterdayat the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym in Manila. The Ninos, who ruled the sixth leg they hosted last week, showed no signs of fatigue as they took an early 11-4 lead before building a commanding 23-point lead in the second half to secure another win. Ex-pro Stephen Padilla, who was named as the Most Valuable Player of last week's leg, buried 5-of-11 threes to finish with 20 points and five assists while Bruce Dacia and Ariel Mepana had 15 points and five rebounds each. "Good thing maganda ang start namin. At least nadistribute namin yung playing time kasi sunod sunod ang mga laro namin," said coach Yayoy Alcoseba, whose squad is actually playing its second week of a scheduled three-straight leg schedule. In the first game, Ani-FCA outlasted MP Gensan, 77-72, to jumpstart its own title bid in the tournament jointly sponsored by the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Liga Pilipinas. The Cultivators posted a 21-9 lead at the end of the first quarter but needed a strong finish to beat the Warriors of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in the tournament jointly organized by the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas. James Sena and Magnum Membrere starred for Ani-FCA as they came through with clutch plays to notch only their fourth win in 9 games in the event. Sena, a former star of Jose Rizal University, shattered a 60-all deadlock with a power move before made his own to show to help Ani-FCA fend off Gensan’s comeback. After Gensan's John Gonzaga cut the lead to one (64-63) on a triple, Membrere, a former Ateneo star, intercepted a long pass by Marvin Yambao before draining a three-point shot that extended the lead to four with two minutes remaining. He later made a steal then made his two foul shots with 1:45 to extend the lead to six before Sena scored on a putback for a 71-63 edge with 1:11 left to seal the deal. Sena had 12 points and nine rebounds while Membrere, an ex-pro, added 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals as Ani-FCA registered its third win in the last four outings. "I think we're starting to play as a team and the players are getting used to each other," said coach Arsenio Dysangco, whose squad lost its first 12 games since the previous PBL conference before coming up with a breakthrough win in the Mandaue City leg. Christian Luanzon paced the Cultivators with 16 points while Marc Cagoco scored the first five points of the game that helped his team build a 14-point lead in the first quarter. He finished with seven points and four rebounds. Sweet-shooting guard Jonathan Parreno and Angel Raymundo topscored for Gensan with 18 points each with the latter hauling down 11 rebounds. The scores: First Game ANI-FCA 77 - Luanzon 16, Sena 12, Membrere 10, Hugnatan 8, Custodio 8, Cagoco 7, Arao 5, Saguindel 4, Co 4, Berry 2, Bautista 1, Dizon 0, Sevilla 0, Palaganas 0. MP GENSAN 72 - Parreno 18, Raymundo 18, Gonzaga 11, Nicdao 9, Daja 4, Yambao 4, Pacquiao B. 2, Callo 2, Mendoza 2, Medalla 2, Sagad 0, Concepcion 0, Farochilen 0. Quarters: 22-9; 33-31; 56-51; 77-72. Second Game M. LHUILLIER CEBU 104 - Padilla 20, Dacia 15, Mepana 15, Basco 12, Ybanez 9, Saladaga 7, Santos 6, Ababon 4, Poligrates 4, Cruz 4, Magsumbol 0. COBRA 81 - Acuna 20, Llagas 13, Barua 13, Lingganay 11, Espiritu 10, Bagatsing 8, Tecson 0, Nabong 0. Quarters: 29-19; 49-38; 77-57; 104-81.
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