The Cebu Landmaster-Mantawi don't think so.
The Landmasters of realtor Joe Soberano wasted away a 22-point lead early in the fourth period but hung on tough towards the end to stun inaugural champion M. Lhuillier, 82-79, in the Visayas Division of the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference the other night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
Former pro standout Dale Singson blew the victory trumpet in his MVBA debut, but it was Carlos Sayon who stole the show with a game-high 21 points capped by a pair of free throws off a Jayford Rodriguez foul that sealed Mantawi's win with 4.7 seconds left in the game.
In the middle quarters, the Jewelers couldn't get their game going. They fired bricks, committed a stack of turnovers and were simply outrebounded and outhustled by their more aggressive foes.
When the Jewelers were at a loss offensively and defensively, Mantawi capitalized on the opportunity to mount an imposing 69-47 lead with just a minute gone by in the final canto. It was the largest deficit ever sustained by the Jewelers in recent years.
On the brink of an embarrassing setback, Rodriguez and top playmaker Woodrow Enriquez presided over M. Lhuillier's gallant fightback at the endgame.
Rodriguez drilled in 13 points, while Enriquez had seven in a blistering 26-7 spurt that gave the Jewelers a new lease on life with only a three-point shortfall, 73-76, with 1:14 remaining in the contest.
In the ensuing play, Singson earned a trip to the 4.5-meter line courtesy of an ill-advised foul by Rodriguez. He then calmly sank his charities for a 79-73 Mantawi edge with 35 ticks to go before the final buzzer.
Still, the Jewelers threatened at 76-79 on three straight free throws by Enriquez, but their hopes of completing the great escape vanished in thin air as the hulking 6-foot-7 center Joel Solis, Bernie Ursal and Sayon went 4-of-6 from the foul line in the final 11 seconds to bail Mantawi out of danger.
Solis, whose towering presence at Mantawi's frontcourt dwarfed M. Lhuillier's big men, added 11 points, while Abe Galinato, Bernie Ursal and Alex Cainglet connived for 27 markers for the Cebu Landmaster-backed squad.
Mantawi, who was handled by assistant coach Jojo Romarate as chief bench tactician Jun Tan was still in Manila attending a very important matter, got off to a rousing 8-2 start.
The best thing the M. Lhuillier could do was to tie the count at 14-all as the Landmasters befuddled the Jewelers from that point on to zoom to a 62-45 advantage after three quarters.
M. Lhuillier of businessman/sportsman Michel Lhuillier and head coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba did manage to wake up from deep offensive slumber but it was too late for them as time wasn't on their side.
Enriquez topped M. Lhuillier with 20 points followed by Rodriguez with 16. The only other double-digit scorer for the Jewelers was Stephen Padilla with 12. The missing link were Enrico Llanto, Aldrin Ocañada, Niño Ramirez and Danny Aying who were held off to a measly 11 points combined.
The Jewelers hope to bounce back from their loss when they battle the MLSDF-Talisay City Aquastars of coach Eddie Ybañez at 6:30 pm this Tuesday at the Talisay City Sports Complex.
Over at the Almendras Gym in Davao City, the MP Warriors-GenSan survived a double overtime thriller against the Iligan Archangels, 105-103, to close out the first half of the Mindanao Division classification round.
With the scored tied at 103-103, Warrior Jeffy Locsin intercepted a pass meant for Jeffrey France and rushed down the court for the game-winning lay-up with four seconds to go. Out of timeouts, the Archangels immediately threw up a prayer of a shot that went nowhere. Locsin had earlier deadlocked the score via two free throws off Sammy Ayodele four at the last 25-second mark.
The scores
Cebu Landmaster-Mantawi (82) - Sayon 21, Solis 11, Galinato 10, Ursal 9, Cainglet 8, Singson 8, Saladaga 4, Redulosa 4, Mangubat 4, Justiniani 2
M. Lhuillier (79) - Enriquez 20, Rodriguez 16, Padilla 12, Manigo 5, Caputolan 5, Abadia 5, Ramirez 4, Llanto 3, Ocañada 2, Piodo 2, Aying 2
Quarterscores:18-14, 42-28,62-45, 82-79