Monday, December 03, 2007 Arthro faces Mandaue in Game 3 today
THERE will be no tomorrow for today’s loser as Cebu Landmasters-Mandaue and Arthro Kontra Arthritis-Cebu meet in Game Three of the Visayas Division Semifinals of the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Center.
Arthro of sports patron Jonathan Guardo and Coach Al Solis defied their manpower shortage to steal Game One at Mandaue, 81-74, last Nov. 16 before the Landmasters of Coach Jun Tan bounced back and won Game Two at the New Cebu Coliseum, 83-80, last Nov. 21.
For the first time in the series, Arthro will field a full roster with the return of Rino Berame and Michael Luga after they competed in a tournament in Manila with the rest of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.
In their absence of the two frontline aces, Coach Solis’ guards caught fire with Doroteo Almacin leading the charge and scoring 23 points in each of the two games in the series. Also churning out impressive numbers were Alex Cainglet (12.5 ppg) and Mark Ababon (10.0 ppg). Center Marvin Mercado stepped up with an amazing 21-point effort in Game Two.
Playing at home will be a big plus for the Landmasters, as Coach Tan hopes that Game Two heroes Richard Ian Saladaga, Mike Mañigo and Mark Yee continue their impressive performances. The trio accounted for 58 of the Landmasters’ 83 points. Also poised to contribute significantly for the Landmasters are guard Bong Marata and center Christian Nicdao.
Today’s winner will have barely enough rest as they are slated to play top seed M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City on Dec. 4 in Game One of the best-of-three Visayas Division Finals at the New Cebu Coliseum. (MVBA Media Bureau)
