Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Niños beat Explorers to rule Pagadian leg
PAGADIAN City - The M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños banked on its vast championship experience to defeat the hard fighting Pagadian Explorers, 72-67, to win the Pagadian leg of the 2008 Liga Pilipinas Championships Tour Elimination phase at the jampacked Pagadian City Gym last Sunday.
The Niños took over the top spot in the 13-team field after north heavyweight Pampanga Buddies lost to the host team Taguig Batang Global, 75-81, at the CP Tinga hall in Taguig City.
Cebu now has 24 points, Pampanga follows with 20, while Pagadian is at the third place 17. Taguig is fourth with 16 points.
The Niños found Pagadian’s moneyman Mark Yee waxing hot early as he led the Explorers to an early 10-3 lead.
However, Pagadian lost hold of the lead when Cebu attacked Yee’s defense and Ron Capati dominated the middle as the Niños countered with 17-3 run to lead 20-13 before the end of the first quarter.
Cebu was holding a slim lead until Pagadian reclaimed the advantage on a short 8-2 run early in the third, 45-44.
The Niños answered with five baskets and the Explorers made a 10-0 run before Cebu evened the score at 55 at the end of the third period.
Biggest lead
Pagadian erected its biggest lead of the game with an 11-2 run, 66-57 at the 6:04 mark in the fourth but that was the last time the Explorers scored a field goal as the last six minutes was the most trying span in their campaign to win a second leg title.
The Niños quickly employed a full court press and Mark Ababon took two crucial steals, while Bruce Dacia, Marlon Basco and Stephen Padilla nailed a triple each for Cebu’s final 15-1 push.
Ababon was named Best Player of the game as he scored 14 points, on top of three rebounds, five assists, three steals and one shot block. (RCM)
