The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Mandaue City basketball team bucked away a sluggish start to demolish Liloan selection, 86-67, in their exhibition match last Tuesday at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
The Liloan cagers of coach Edcel Vallena were in fighting mood only in the first period where they led by two, 25-23, as MLKP-Mandaue of sports adviser Glen Bercede and head coach Eddie B. Ybañez fought back with finesse in the second quarter, 23-14, to grab the lead for good at halftime, 46-39.
Roy Arnado, Jerwin Espina, Sherwin Candelada and Josac Arong then took over the offensive charge as MLKP-Mandaue built a commanding 18-point advantage, 74-56, midway in the final stretch.
The ferocious MLKP-Mandaue chargers formally finished off Liloan with a 21-point edge, 86-65, with less than a minute left to play.
Underscoring their balanced attack, five MLKP-Mandaue players dished out double figures led by Arong with 19 points. Espina donated 15 markers followed by former commercial star Arnado with 14 makers spiked with four triples - all in the second canto.
Ramp model John Hall and ex-SWU Cobra Maynard Padilla pitched in 13 ansd 12 markers, respectively, for MLKP-Mandaue, which is shaping up for its participation in next month’s 1st Cebu Inter-City Cup Basketball Challenge organized by BAP-SBP Cebu Province director Lorenzo “Chao” C. Sy.
The scores
MLKP-Mandaue (86) - Arong 19, Espina 15, Arnado 14, Hall 13, Padilla 12, Dennison 5, Candelada 4, Baclay 4
Liloan selection (67) - Tagalog 19, Toong 16, Taneo 11, Alejandrino 8, Cañete 7, Jurado 4, Cabatingan 2
Quarterscores:23-25,46-39, 66-56, 86-67