TEAM STANDINGS
M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos 3-0
Ilocos Sur CS Tigers 2-1
MP Warriors of GenSan 1-2
Laguna Golden Lions 0-3
Games Today (April 30) – Santo Domingo People’s Center
2:00 PM MP Warriors of GenSan vs. Laguna Golden Lions (for Third Place)
4:00 PM M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos vs. Ilocos Sur CS Tigers (Championship)
SANTO DOMINGO, Ilocos Sur – Defending champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos escaped with an 83-82 thriller over the host Ilocos Sur CS Tigers Friday evening at the packed Santo Domingo People’s Center in continuing action from the SMC Liga Pilipinas Conference V Ilocos Sur Leg.
Serving as a preview of Saturday’s leg championship, Jemal Vizcarra picked up the loose ball after a mad scramble underneath for an easy basket that tied the game for the last time at 82-82 and 5.7 seconds to play.
Mark Abadia then drew a quick foul from Chito Jaime but could only split his free throws to put the Ninos of Michel Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba on top anew, 83-82, 3.3 ticks remaining. The Tigers sued for time and in the final play, Abadia redeemed himself by intercepting Vizcarra’s inbound pass, dribbling the time away.
It was a sorry loss for the wards of Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson and Coach Johnedel Cardel, snapping their two-game winning streak. The Ninos remained the only undefeated team in the tournament.
Ian Saladaga had a good all-around game with 26 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals to power M. Lhuillier. Jayford Rodriguez followed with 24 points. Former M. Lhuillier player Warren Ybanez played well against his old mates by topping the Tigers with 16 markers, the same output as Jaime.
Both coaches played a calculated game, giving more exposure to their role players and second units and experimenting with combinations in anticipation of a titanic clash in the tournament finale. For sweeping their three games, M. Lhuillier earned a two-point bonus in the SMC Liga Tour Standings.
In the first game, Louie Medalla sailed in for an easy lay-up with 0.9 of a second to go to lift the MP Warriors of GenSan to the their first victory of the tournament, 89-88, against the still winless Laguna Golden Lions.
Earlier, Medalla capped the Warriors’ furious comeback by breaking past the defense of Glenn Bolocon for a twisting lay-up and lead for the first time, 87-86, with 8.2 ticks remaining. After a time out, Robert Sanz restored the lead to the Lions via a barreling drive with 5.8 to play, 88-87.
On top by as high as 16 at the halftime break, 51-35, the Lions of Gov. ER Ejercito and Coach Nomar Isla slowly allowed the Warriors of Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Coach Arvin Bonleon to close in on the good plays of former Laguna players Alex Angeles and Alfie Grijaldo.
Grijaldo led the Warriors with 22 points followed by Angeles and Jonathan Parreno with 16 apiece. Jonathan Aldave, who did not play the other day, returned by pacing the Lions with 24 followed by Bolocon with 15.
How They Scored:
First Game
GEN. SANTOS (89) – Grijaldo 22, Parreno 16, Angeles 16, Medalla 9, Nicdao 8, Mendoza 6, Sagad 4, Alih 2, Cordero 2, Legada 0, Callo 0, Bucao 0, Concepcion 0.
LAGUNA (88) – Aldave 24, Bolocon 15, Faundo 10, Bautista 9, Sanz 9, Mercado 6, Ricafuente 4, Feihl 4, Saguindel 3, Fampulme 2, Athie 2, Glorioso 0.
Period Scores: 11-22, 35-51, 60-67, 89-88.
Second Game
M. LHUILLIER-CEBU (83) – Saladaga 26, Rodriguez 24, Abadia 11, Santos 7, Nailon 4, Cruz 4, Padilla 3, Baguion 3, Raymundo 1, Ababon 0, Dacia 0, Belano 0, Lusdoc 0.
ILOCOS SUR (82) – Ybanez 16, Jaime 16, E. Sta. Maria 11, Williams 11, Vizcarra 9, de Castro 6, Junio 5, Santos 4, Cacha 2, Gali 2, Gonzales 0, Agacer 0, Graebel 0, A. Sta. Maria 0.
Period Scores: 25-10, 41-36, 66-59, 83-82.
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