M. Lhuillier thumbs down CCC Builders in friendly

CEBU - Bull-strong center Ron Capati and slippery guard Woodrow Enriquez sparked a late fourth-quarter comeback to rally the inaugural Liga Pilipinas champion M.Lhullier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños past the Carmen Copper Corporation-Construction Services Department (CCC-CSD) Builders, 111-104, in their basketball exhibition match last Saturday at the CCC Sports Complex in Lutopan, Toledo City.

The Niños were trailing most of the way, but a go-ahead triple by Enriquez, 101-100, with 3:12 left to play set up the stage for M. Lhuillier's great escape after being down by as much as 13 points, 32-45, on back-to-back baskets by Jerry Jaca in the second quarter.

Capati then scored three straight points to pad the Niños' lead to four, 104-100. He and Enriquez went on to score the team's last nine points until the last basket by Bruce Dacia came in for the final outcome.

Capati and Enriquez finished with 14 points apiece. It was 3-point bomber Stephen Padilla who paced M. Lhuillier with 18 markers followed by Rino Berame with 17. The other double-digit scorer for the Niños was Gerry Cavan with 12.

Big man Marlon Basco scored only seven points for the Niños, but his presence helped neutralize CCC's 6-foot-8 beanpole June Mar Fajardo.

The Builders of coach Boboy Cal took a 29-19 lead at the end of the first period courtesy of a buzzer-beating triple by former RP Youth member Wilbert Sayson.

Jaca, who had a short stint with M. Lhuillier, led the Builders with 24 points, while Aldrin Ocañada, who is also a former Jeweler, chipped in 19. Fajardo scored 13, while Sayson had 11.

The last time the Builders were on top was at 100-98 on Roy Arnado's undergoal stab that drew a loud applause from the copper-mining firm fanatics.

In the preliminary game, the Security Division defeated the PPD/Machine Shop, 102-93.

The scores

First game

Security (102) - Barcenas 21, Perras 16, Godornes 16, P. Sullano 14, Pardillo 8, Ocariza 6, Pepelot 5, Tuquib 5, E. Sullano 3, Leponira 3, Talisik 3, Lindo 2

PPD/Machine shop (93) - M. Pepito 36, Villarin 16, Obando 13, Ricafort 8, Carillo 6, Blanco 4, Paparate 4, Moniva 2, Diaz 2, Pepito 2

Second game

MLKP-Cebu Niños (111) - Padilla 18, Berame 17, Capati 14, Enriquez 14, Cavan 12, Dacia 9, Ababon 8, Aying 8, Basco 7, Tangkay 4

CCC-CSD (104) - Jaca 24, Ocañada 19, Fajardo 13, Sayson 11, Arnado 10, Delos Santos 8, Redulosa 8, Abatayo 5, Montalbo 4, Juliane 2. – GGM (FREEMAN NEWS)