M. Lhuillier survives Landmaster

Defending champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City needed an overtime period to survive a big scare from Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue, 89-86, and take Game 1 of the best-of-three Visayas Division Finals of the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference on Wednesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Game 2 of the series is set for tonight at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex starting at 5:30 pm. 

M. Lhuillier of Michel Lhuillier and Coach Raul Alcoseba can wrap it up while Landmaster of Joe Soberano, Mayor Jonas Cortes and Coach Jun Tan will try its best to send the series to a deciding third game on Sunday (December 9) at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Jewelers looked headed for the easy win, mounting a 16-point lead on a three-point play by Marlon Basco, 76-60, with 4:56 left in the fourth quarter. 

Suddenly, disaster struck the Jewelers as Landmaster unloaded an 18-2 bomb to close out regulation time, capped by back-to-back triples by Mike Manigo to tie the count at 78-78 with 13 ticks on the clock.

Coach Alcoseba designed a play for Stephen Padilla but the ball went to Jett Latonio who launched a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer hence the overtime. 

Landmaster actually scored the last 12 points of regulation after Jerry Cavan converted two free throws off a technical foul on the Landmaster bench for excessive complaining at the 3:40 mark, 78-66.  Compounding M. Lhuillier’s woes were the disqualifications of centers Basco and Ronald Capati with still three minutes to go.

Scoreless in the first four quarters, Padilla exploded in the overtime with all his five points, topped by a triple at the 2:00 warning that shattered an 84-84 deadlock and put M. Lhuillier on top for good, 87-84.                 Woodrow Enriquez and Harold Santa Cruz then traded baskets.  After a failed M. Lhuillier offensive, Landmaster had the chance to force a second extension but Richard Ian Saladaga missed his open triple attempt from the corner as time expired.

Capati led M. Lhuillier with 17 points followed by Basco with 15.  Four other Jewelers had twin digits in Cavan with 14, Enriquez 12, Lou Gatumbato 11 and Bruce Dacia 10. 

Mark Yee had a monster game with 24 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in the losing effort.  Saladaga added 18, Manigo 13 and Bong Marata 12.

Waiting for the series winner is Mindanao Division champion Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr of Gov. Oscar Moreno and Coach Bong Abad.  MisOr copped its third straight Mindanao title by besting the MP Warriors-GenSan, 2-1. 

MisOr will host the Visayas champion in Game 1 of the MVBA Finals next week.  Game 2 and if needed Game 3 will be at the Visayas champion’s home venue.—MVBA Media Bureau