Arthro Kontra Arthritis held Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue scoreless in the final 1:38 mark of the contest to hack out a 93-81 victory in the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference on Monday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Games Friday
(Xavier University Gym, CDO)
6:30 pm Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr vs. M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City
The Landmasters threatened for the last time, 81-85, on Bong Marata’s five straight points. From there, Arthro of sports patron Jonathan Guardo and Coach Al Solis scored the final eight points of the otherwise tight contest, employing a confusing defense that sent Landmaster into a maze of errors and forced shots.
Earlier, Alex Cainglet exploded for 16 points in the third quarter including a triple that put Arthro on top for good entering the final period, 65-64. Timely baskets by Ronald Bucao managed to repel Landmaster’s repeated attempts to rally.
Landmaster of Joe Soberano and Coach Jun Tan used a 12-3 run to build a 45-37 edge at halftime. Cainglet, Doroteo Almacin and Luther Justiniani rained a combined seven triples in the third period to fuel Arthro’s mighty comeback.
Arthro, thus, tallied its first win and snapped Landmaster’s two-game winning run in the league sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and backed by ML Kwarta Padala, Nature’s Spring, Accel, Gameface.Ph, Reva Sandals and Nike Basketball.
Cainglet topped Arthro with 18 points followed by Almacin with 17 and Bucao with 15.
Mike Manigo paced Landmaster with 14, while Harold Santa Cruz added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
MVBA action transfers to Mindanao this Friday with defending champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City traveling to Cagayan de Oro City to play Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr of Gov. Oscar Moreno at the Xavier University Gym starting at 6:30 pm.
The game will mark the start of the Jewelers’ three-game swing of Mindanao where they will also play the MP Warriors-GenSan on September 29 and the Duterte-Davao Agilas on September 30.
The scores
Arthro-Cebu (93) - Cainglet 18, Almacin 17, Bucao 15, Ababon 13, Justiniani 8, France 8, Garcia 5, Mercado 4, Gadiane 3, Omandam 2
Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue (81) - Manigo 14, Santa Cruz 13, Marata 12, Yee 12, Saladaga 11, Torion 8, Nicdao 6, Ocanada 3, Gloria 2
Quarterscores:16-13, 37-45, 65-64, 93-81