Monday, September 15, 2008 Niños face Taguig in Game 1 tonight
THE finals stage has been laid down perfectly and No.1 team M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños enter the court today in high spirit as they gun for the series opener Game 1 win over the No.3 team Harbour Centre-Taguig Batang Global in the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Finals at the Cebu Coliseum starting at 6 p.m. tonight.
“It has been our main goal to be in the Finals and here it is. We are here. From here, we will take it one game at a time. We know Taguig is not an easy team, it is not the same team that we beat (in Ilocos Sur) during the tour elimination phase,” Cebu coach Yayoy Alcoseba told Sun.Star Cebu.
“Back then they (Taguig) was just starting so we had the advantage of playing as a whole team. But that advantage is gone now and all we have left is the homecourt advantage because we are now on equal footing,” said Alcoseba.
Cebu defeated Taguig, 98-93, in overtime in the first-ever game of the Liga Pilipinas at the Sto. Domingo People’s Center in Sto. Domingo Ilocos Sur last June 18.
The Niños scored a repeat when they defeated the Batang Global, 117-94, in the semifinal round of the Ilocos Sur leg three days later en route to winning the leg title.
“We will surely have our hands full against the best team in the league, especially now that we lost our top scorer (Noy Javier) to a shoulder injury and also center-forward Anthony Cuevas to the pros,” said Taguig coach Jude Roque.
“Some key players are also playing hurt. But we have survived tough situations before. If we play together and give our best, we have a chance. We especially need to improve our defense,” he said.
Statistically Cebu has the advantage over Taguig. The Niños are the top offensive team and third defensively. They also lead in field goals percentage, three-point shooting, second chance points, total rebounding and are second in offensive rebounds.
On the flip side of the coin, Taguig is fourth offensively and ninth defensively.
“Statistics won’t matter now. This is the Finals and the team who will play better defense will win the game and eventually win the series,” said Alcoseba. (RCM)
