A DAY after losing their 30-match winning streak, the Cebu Niños are back doing what they do best—winning matches.
Still pissed about their shock ing defeat to the Pacman Warriors, the MLKP Cebu Niños vented their ire on the Ani-FCA Cultivators, 91-71, to claim the first finals berth in the seventh Leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym in Manila yesterday.
The Niños will play host Cobra Energy Drink Iron Men, who took the second slot via a scary 63-61 win over the Pacman Warriors in the main game.
Another win today will earn the Niños their third straight leg title.
“All things have an ending. Fortunately, the loss was not during a championship match. Okay lang mapildi basta dili lang sa championship,” Cebu head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Stephen Padilla started the game rolling for the Niños as he scored all of his 16 points—including four triples—in the first quarter.
Ariel Mepaña then took over the scoring cudgel with the help of Bruce Dacia, as the Niños erected a 41-21 lead at the halftime.
Mepaña scored 17 points on top of 10 rebounds and Dacia finished with 13. Jun Dizon top scored for the Cultivators with 19 points, Christian Luazon finished with 15 and Jofer Custodio contributed 13.