Friday, July 18, 2008 Dacia, Rodriguez lead Niños past Laguna in Liga
THE M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños were all business as they started their bid to defend its turf against a tough field with a 90-69 win over the rebuilding Trace Laguna Stallions in the Cebu eg of the 2008 Liga Pilipinas Championships tour elimination at the Cebu Coliseum last Wednesday.
Ilocos Sur leg best player Bruce Dacia and Jayford Rodriguez led the Niños to victory as the explosive duo combined for 34 points.
Dacia, who came off the bench, scored 18 points on top of five rebounds and one assist, while Rodriguez, who started for Cebu, made 16 points to go with two rebounds and an assist.
The fearless slasher Richard Ian Saladaga also scored 15 points in 22 minutes in the game.
Cebu was sluggish in the opening quarter, and after its prized center Marlon Basco was slowed with fouls, the Niños allowed Laguna to erect a 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.
It took more than six minutes in the second quarter for the Niños to break away for good.
Cebu went 32-of-73 from the field, while Laguna was 27-of-56.
The Niños’ defense forced the Stallions to commit 18 turnovers which they converted into 26 points.
Over at the Quezon Convention Center in Quezon, Baguio Victory sank Ilocos Sur, 76-68 and the host team Quezon Red Oilers handed Misamis Oriental Meteors a crushing 85-73 defeat in overtime
Meanwhile, the Pampanga Buddies nailed its second win as they subdued the Trace Laguna Stallions, 88-81, in the first game of the double-header Cebu leg of the 2008 Liga Pilipinas Championships tour elimination phase at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
The M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños were also shooting for their second win against the listless Zamboanga Amores at press time last night.
Larry Rodriguez scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half to lead the Buddies to victory.
Pampanga went 33-of-58 from the field while Laguna went to an aweful 9-of-22 from the free throw line.
Jerwin Gaco topped the Laguna scorers with 19 markers.
