Thursday, May 29, 2008
Cebu collars Liga Pilipinas pre-season title
THE Cebu City Niños banked on three huge rallies to deal the hard–working ragtag team of Pagadian Explorers an 88-74 beating to claim the Liga Pilipinas Cebu Pre-Season title Tuesday evening at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Niños were trailing in the early parts of the first quarter, 21-14, before dropping a 10-2 bomb that turned the deficit into a 24-23 lead at the end of the opening period.
Pagadian managed to take back control of the game with very slim leads in the second period until, once more, the Niños dropped a deafening 16-0 blast in the final three minutes of the first half to erect a 51-36 lead at the turn.
Not wanting to go home empty-handed, the Explorers started the third quarter with a 12-1 run but the Niños rounded the period up with a solid 22-13 kick to install the double digit lead for good.
Former collegiate stalwarts Jayford Rod–riguez and Richard Ian Saladaga led the Niños assault.
Rodriguez scored 17 points while fearless slasher Saladaga contributed 16. Arian Daja topped the losing Explorers with 19 markers.
Earlier, the Misamis Oriental Meteors vented their ire on the unsuspecting Zamboanga Amores following a one-sided 101-71 drubbing to secure the third place diadem.
The Meteors started the game with a 22-6 blitz in the opening quarter that set the tune for the lopsided victory.
MisOr (101) – Faundo 22, Paterno 16, Zagala 16, Tagupa 15, Caputulan 8, Numeran 8, Tadena 6, Concha 6, Farochilen 4. Zamboanga (71) – Alvarez 20, Saracho 17, Kong 11, Pareno 8, Naron 5, Navarro 4, Chua 2, Concepcion 2, France 2. Quarters: 22-6; 48-19; 77-38; 101-71.
Cebu (88) – Rodriguez 17, Saladaga 16, Basco 15, Padilla 10, Dacia 10, Capati 9, Aying 6, Luga 3, Cavan 2. Pagadian (74) – Daja 19, Yee 16, Orquillas 12, Labagala 9, Villaver 6, Saludsod 4, Quilo 3, Sinco 3, Omandam 2. Quarters: 24-23; 51-36; 72-61; 88-74. (RCM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 29, 2008 issue)
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