Wednesday, August 06, 2008 M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños to field No. 1 team with ‘perfect defense’
THE M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños will enter the 2008 Liga Pilipinas Championships playoffs not only as the No.1 team after the tour elimination phase but also as the No.1 offensive team.
Defensively, Cebu is No. 2 to Pagadian, allowing its opponents to just 76.3 points, 39.4 rebounds, 16.1 assists, 5.0 steals and 2.5 blocks per game in 20 outings.
Pagadian Explorers topped the defensive department limiting the opposition at 69.2 points per game.
Competition
Completing the defensive rankings are the Pampanga Buddies (76.3), Tagaytay/Cavite Heroes (76.6), Misamis Oriental Meteors (77.3), Trace Laguna Stallions (80.2), Baguio Victory (80.7), Ilocos Sur Bravehearts (81.7), Quezon Red Oilers (82.1), Taguig Batang Global (83.0), Lipa/Batangas Barakos (83.7), Iloilo (87.0) and Zamboanga at the bottom with 94.4 points allowed per game.
While in offense, Cebu has the highest average with 88.5 points per game followed by Lipa (85.0ppg), Iloilo (84.7), Taguig (84.2), Pampanga (83.1), Zamboanga (81.1), Baguio (80.7), Ilocos Sur (79.6), Laguna (78.4), MisOr (77.4), Quezon (77.1), Tagaytay (76.1) and Pagadian (72.2).
Ranked
Cebu also ranked No.1 in field goal percentage at 45.3 percent shooting clip per game, No.1 in free throw percentage on defensive side allowing only 61.5 percent free throw clip in 20 games.
No.1 in the total rebound defensive department allowing opponents to grab only an average of 39.4 rebounds per and No.1 in defensive rebounding (defense category) with 26.2 rpg.
Cebu also finished the elimination round No.2 in total field goals made, No.2 in three points made (8.3), No.2 in three points percentage (35.5 percent), 2-pt percentage (50.3 percent) and No.2 in total offensive rebounding (16.0).
The Niños enjoys the homecourt advantage in all its playoffs assignment after sweeping all its four leg assignments. (RCM)
