Sunday, July 27, 2008 Niños rout Iloilo for no. 1 spot in Liga
THE M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños played like a well-oiled machine as they hammered the erstwhile unbeaten home team Iloilo Mang Inasals, 94-71, to take the top spot of the Iloilo leg of the 2008 Liga Pilipinas Championships Tour eliminations held at the Pototan Astrodome in Iloilo.
After suffering their worst defeat in the conference from the hands of the Pagadian Explorers, the Niños showed their meanest side and shot 80 percent in the opening quarter for their easy win.
With only 14 points needed to be on the top, Cebu pounded early with Bruce Dacia scoring 15 of his team high 24 points.
Cebu, Iloilo and Pagadian were tied with a 2-1 win-loss record but after the Liga Pilipinas quotient system was used, the Niños topped the elimination with a plus 14 points. Pagadian came in second with 0 and Iloilo at third place with negative 5 points.
After erecting a 53-29 lead at the half, Iloilo seemed to have lost interest as their main concern was to keep the final margin respectable but it did not happen as Cebu waxed hot and sunk 13 triples.
Aside from Dacia, who also had six rebounds, team skipper Danny Aying scored 13, Marlon Basco and Mark Ababon finishing with 12 and Jayford Rodriguez had 11.
Jojo Laborte topped Mang Inasals with the game-high 29 points, while scoring leader Chito Jaime was held to just 13 and Ferdie Go had 10.
The Niños were set to play the winless Quezon Red Oilers in the semifinal match at press time.
Meanwhile, the Red Oilers lost control of the game in the final period after leading all the way through the three quarters as the Pagadian Explorers sneaked up, 75-67.
Again, it was Mark Yee who led the Explorers to victory as the scored 19 points on top of 21 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. (RCM)
