Thursday, September 04, 2008 One more: Niños take Game 2; 1 win away from sweep
THE M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños held Lipa/Batangas Barakos scoreless in the final 3:55 to take Game 2, 83-72, and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series of the 2008 Smart Liga Pilipinas Playoffs at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
The concerted efforts of Marlon Basco and Mark Ababon played crucial role in Cebu’s win as they faced a tough challenge from the Barakos from the start to the end.
Despite out-rebounding the Barakos, 56-29, the Niños struggled offensively allowing Lipa to gather momentum in most part of the game.
The game had 16 deadlocks and 13 lead changes, and the last time the Barakos had the upperhand was at the 3:55 mark of the fourth with Al Vergara converting two points for a 72-65 lead.
However, it was quickly erased as the Niños got their acts together.
Basco scored five points to even the game at 72-72 at the 2:24 mark and Ababon took matters into his hands scoring the next five points, including a triple at the 1:42 that gave Cebu a 77-72 lead.
Desperate for answers, the Barakos tried to regroup behind Bon Bon Custodio but the defense of the Niños resulted to an unmolested lay-up by Basco at the 1:09 mark.
Richard Ian Saladaga came into the picture scoring the final four points for the Niños.
Basco was again named Best Player of the Game as the 6-foot-5 forward tallied 12 markers including 16 rebounds, two steals and a block.
Instant offense
Jayford Rodriguez who provided the instant offense for Cebu when they needed baskets during the second and third quarter topped the Niños scorers with 15. Stephen Padilla added 11, while Bruce Dacia scored 10.
Jeffrey Sanders lead all scorers as he drilled 17 points for the Lipa/Batangas squad and Cebuano Braulio Lim finished with 12, while Custodio and Vergara had 11 each.
The Niños will try to wrap up the series in Games 3 and 4 scheduled in Lipa Convention Center on Sept. 7 and 8. (RCM)
