Cebu Niños take game one

CEBU -  Rising splendidly to the challenge of a most worthy opponent, the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-backed Cebu Niños plastered back Harbour Centre-Taguig, 98-78, last night to take Game One of the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Finals last night at the rocking Cebu Coliseum.

Game today

(Cebu Coliseum)

6 pm - Taguig vs. Cebu

The Niños, who hold homecourt advantage in the best-of-five championship series backed by Rexona, Accel, Burlington, Molten, Metathione, Nature Spring, Pagcor Sports and Laptop Phoneshop gun for a commanding 2-0 lead today before flying to the C.P. Tinga gym in Taguig for Game Three and, if necessary, Game Four.

Cebu will host Game Five if the series goes the distance.

Displaying an unwavering resolve and an arsenal full of firepower, the Niños broke away from a tight first half and never looked back, roaring to a 79-63 lead in the third quarter behind Jojo Tangkay and Ian Saladaga.

Applying heavy defensive pressure, Cebu used a 13-6 run at the start of the second half to open a 62-51 advantage with 6:12 left in the third quarter, giving the Niños breathing space after a choking first half.

Despite the heavy presence of the fiercely-devoted Cebu fans, the Niños needed a late three-point shot from Saladaga to keep the Batang Global at bay after two quarters, 49-46.

Shooting 5-of-6 from the floor, Taguig raced to 12-2 start as Marvin Ortiguerra and Paul Reguerra drained three-pointers each, quieting the thousands of Cebu fans.

But Tangkay clustered eight straight points, including two triples, to fire up the Niños who grabbed the lead, 26-24, on Danny Aying’s 3-pointer basket.

Guard Mark Ababon then ignited the Niños’ transition game, orchestrating their fast break and giving Cebu its biggest lead so far, 46-39, at the 2:21 mark.

Bombeo and Erick Rodriguez sliced the lead at 46-44 with 1:18 remaining before Saladaga buried a 3-pointer and Rodriguez a two-point basket heading to the intermission.

Saladaga had 12 points in the second quarter, coming off the bench. He finished with 19 points even as four other Cebu players dished out twin figures. Ron Capati had 14 points, followed by Woodrow Enriquez with 13, Tangkay 12, and Bruce Dacia 11.

Both teams made five triples each in the opening half with Cebu getting a higher percentage (5-of-10) against Taguig’s 5-of-12. Taguig, however, had a better shooting clip, 20 of 33 (61 percent) to Cebu’s 17-of-34.

The Niños dominated the board 20-11 and scored more on fast breaks 14-8, while Taguig had more assists 11-8 and scored more on turnovers 7-5.

The Niños enjoyed their biggest lead at 24 points, 98-74, on back-to-back treys by Jayford Rodriguez with 41 seconds left to play.

The scores

Cebu (98) - Saladaga 19, Capati 14, Enriquez 13, Tangkay 12, Dacia 11, Basco 8, Rodriguez 6, Abaon 6, Bucao 6, Mepaña 6, Aying 3, Padilla 2, Cavan 2

Taguig (78) - Rodriguez 19, Reguera 15, Aldavae 13, Bombeo 8, Matias 8, Gatumbato 7, Ortiguerra 6, Marquez 2 Quarterscores: 26-26; 49-46; 72-63; 98-78

NOTES: Ervic Vijandre, a member of the Philippine baseball team, played for Taguig Batang Global. Unknown to many, Vijandre is the real life girlfriend of popular TV actress/commercial model Marian Rivera. Their romance blossomed when they were still high school classmates at St. Francis of Assisi in Cavite....Liga commissioner Noli Eala gave a brief speech during halftime, thanking the Cebuano fans for their support to the community-based league and assuring everyone of a bigger and better Liga second conference this November....Cebu top playmaker Woodrow Enriquez was seen limping out of the hardcourt in the final 5:20 mark of the contest. Enriquez sprained his left ankle and is a doubtful starter in today’s Game 2. (EBV) (THE FREEMAN)