Wednesday, September 05, 2007 Mandaue repulses MisOr
THE CEBU Landmasters-Mandaue City lorded over the reigning 2007 MVBA First Conference champion Holcim Pryce Pharma Misamis Oriental to notch its second win, 80-67, in the 2007 MVBA-Hotel Fortuna Pre-conference invitational tournament at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
Aldrin Ocañada gave the Jun Tan-mentored squad the easy win as the sweet-shooting former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancer scattered 17 points including 10 in the final quarter to thwart the strong challenge posted by MisOr, led a by veteran Lowell Briones and Anton Viloria.
In the main game M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala bounced back from its opening day loss to the Landmasters and scored a masterful 89-77 rout over the Arthro Kontra Arthritis.
The Jewelers banked on the balance offensive blitz of Bruce Dacia, Gerry Cavan, Marlon Basco, Jhett Latonio, Danny Aying and Stephen Padilla to beat Arthro.
Trailing mostly in the first quarter, the Jewelers crashed the board harder, contest every Arthro shot and outsmarted the Kontra Arthritis squad for the win.
Today, Arthro and the Jewelers are in a must win situation as they face separate opponents.
However, the Jewelers have an “easier”match as they play the already eliminated Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr in the opening game at 5:30, while Arthro will battle the Landmasters in the main game at 7 p.m.
Against MisOr, the Landmasters had control of the game early, protecting a slim lead in the first half before Misamis Oriental crumbled in the second half.
Viloria kept the game within reach for Holcim-Pryce in the third, scoring 13 of the team’s 17 points but the combination of Ocañada, Mark Yee, Alfie Grijaldo and John Montalbo were too tough to handle.
With the Landmasters building a 57-45 lead at the start of the final period, Briones tried to bring life to MisOr, bringing the lead down to 54-59 still with 6:57 to play.
However, Tan reinserted his prized center Joseph Ronald Quiñahan into the action and the Landmasters quickly installed a 12-point lead, 68-56, two minutes later.
Briones quickly sank two triples, but he didn’t get enough support from his teammates as Mandaue City finished the game with a telling 12-3 run. (RCM)
