Ginebra dodges M. Lhuillier bullet

Explosive wingman Cyrus Baguio unloaded 11 of his 17 points in the final quarter as the Brgy. Ginebra Kings scraped through a precarious 76-71 victory over the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños in their charity exhibition match last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Game today

(Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex)

6 pm Brgy. Ginebra Kings vs. Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters

Following through the same storyline in their last year’s encounter, the Gin Kings of coach Joseph “Jong” Uichico found the Niños a very tough constumer to handle.

So tough the challenge mounted by M. Lhuillier was that the Gin Kings needed a spirited endgame push sparked by the Iligan City-native Baguio before finishing off the gritty Cebuano cagers.

It was a close-knit match that was accounted for four deadlocks and 13 lead changes.

The last time the Niños were on top was at 61-60 as sharp-shooting playmaker Celino Cruz knocked in a triple to put Ginebra on top for good, 63-61 with still 6:21 left to play.

It was then showtime for Baguio.

The former Southwestern University Baby Cobra who once held the Slam Dunk king title in the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (now the CESAFI) converted a beautiful acrobatic shot and then hit a booming triple in between back-to-back baskets by Enrico Villanueva and Willie Wilson to give the Gin Kings their biggest lead, 72-63, at the final 3:18 mark of the contest.

The Niños countered with a 7-2 run to threaten at 70-74 with a little over a minute to go in the game.

The wards of coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba could have gotten closer but Bruce Dacia and Stephen Padilla went 1-of-4 from the foul line that further sealed M. Lhuillier’s doom.

Cruz answered a split charities by Padilla with his third triple of the night to settle the final outcome. He finished with 13 points.

Bruce Dacia topscored for M. Lhuillier with 16 points followed by Nailon with 10.

M.Lhuillier, thus, ended their four-game marathon against tough PBA squads with a 1-3 record. They won against Alaska Aces, 75-55, but lost to San Miguel Beermen, 72-83, Purefoods TJ Giants, 65-73, and most recently to Ginebra.

The scores

Ginebra (76)- Baguio 17, Cruz 13, Villanueva 9, Mamaril 8, Bugia 6, Caguioa 6, Tubid 5, Wilson 4, Menk 4, White 2, Kramer 2

Cebu (71) – Dacia 16, Nailon 10, Ybañez 9, Mepaña 9, Padilla 9, Enriquez 7, Saladaga 5, Basco 3, Santos 3 (Emmanuel B. Villaruel)