Niños face bitter rivals

THE ultimate battle for supremacy will start today as bitter rivals M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños and the Misamis Oriental Meteors kick off their bid to win the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) national title in Game 1 of the best-of-5 series at the Cebu Coliseum at 6 p.m.

Game 2 is also scheduled at the Cebu Coliseum on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

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After almost three months of battle, the ultimate prize is about to be given to the lone survivor but it is expected that the title will not be handed on a silver platter as both teams have a storied history since their Mindanao-Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) days.

In their countless encounter for the championship, the Meteors had already stolen two from the Niños—one MVBA title and the Liga Pilipinas Conference 2 title in April last year.

Melee

Adding color to the championship series is the unexpected melee last July 28 that involved Nat Cruz and Hafer Mondragon of the Niños and Ronald Lamocha and Kris Lucernas of the Meteors.

And while the Niños added Froilan Baguion to their backcourt, the Meteors hired Reed Friar Juntilla to boost an already talented wing position.

The No.2 seed Meteors marched to the finals uncontested after Hobe Bihon-Taguig City opted to forfeit its right to play in the semifinal series.

The Niños didn’t have that luxury and had to beat the Treston-Laguna Stallions twice.

MisOr’s main agenda is to win at least one game in Cebu and finish the series at home.

The Meteors will host Games 3 and 4 on Sept. 10 and 11.

The Niños aim to win the two games to ensure the series will return home in case the Meteors beat them twice in Cagayan de Oro City.