M. Lhuillier out to seek vengeance vs. Pacman

The Cebu City-M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Jewelers seek no less than vengeance against Gensan Pacman of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao when they clash in the championship of the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Governor Gwen Garcia Cup Pre-Season Tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Cebu Jewelers and the visiting Gensan Pacman earned the right to clash for the crown of this four-day cagefest after disposing off their respective rivals yesterday. Games today (For third) 5:00 pm Bacolod-WNC vs. Manila-Bacchus (Championship) 6:30 pm Gensan Pacman vs. M. Lhuillier

M. Lhuillier detonated a devastating 22-4 bomb bridging the third and fourth quarters to blow away Manila's Bacchus/Harbour Centre, 84-68, while Gensan Pacman booked the first final berth courtesy of 69-55 rout of Bacolod City's West Negros College (WNC) Mustangs.

In their first encounter last Friday, Gensan Pacman scored a shocking 86-82 upset over M. Lhuillier. It was the Jewelers' lone defeat in recent years.

For the second straight game, Jayford Rodriguez topped M. Lhuillier with 23 points, while James Laygo and Woodrow Enriquez connived for 29 points for the Jewelers, who were constantly threatened after leading by 10 points twice, the last was at 51-41 with 4:40 left in the third period.

Manila-Bacchus staged a sizzling 12-0 run to grab the driver's seat, 53-51, but the high-flying Rodriguez completed a rare four-point play and then Enriquez sank a 3-pointer and hit two free throws in a 10-2 binge to put the Jewelers back in front, 60-55, entering the payoff period.

The Jewelers opened the last quarter with a 13-2 bang to register their biggest of the night at 17 points, 73-57, on Laygo's triple with 5:26 remaining in the contest. In that seven-minute stretch since the third period, Bacchus scored only four points.

Bacchus led in the game only twice, the first was at 4-3 as Rodriguez knocked in a pair of triples and converted two straight layups in between Carlos Sayon's back-to-back jumpers to vault M. Lhuillier to an early 16-6 advantage.

Bacchus pulled within 18-19, but the Jewelers restored a double-digit lead with halfway mark in the third frame. Bacchus wrested the lead briefly, but Rodriguez came into M. Lhuillier's rescue for good.

Earlier, dreaded sharp-shooter Roderick "Balong" Ramos charted a tournament-high 29 points spiked with five triples for Gensan Pacman, which shoots for its third straight title after ruling invitational tournaments in Tagum City, Davao and in Maramag, Bukidnon in just two-month span.

The scores
First game
Pacman (69) - Ramos 29, Medalla 12, Daja 8, Locsin 8, Rubi 6, Farochilin 4, Neri 2
Bacolod-WNC (55) - Olarte 14, Deocadis 12, Sangayo 9, Tizon 6, Baclao 4, Vergara 4, Dapar 3, Abaring 3

Second game
M. Lhuillier (84) - Rodriguez 23, Laygo 15, Enriquez 14, Piodo 10, Sayon 9, Caputolan 4, Aying 3, Bat-og 2, Ocañada 2
Manila-Bacchus (68) - Koyukang 15, Aquino 12, Hubalde 12, Membrere 10, Reroma 8, Reyes 5, Cuevas 3, Pile 3