M. Lhuillier-backed Cebu Niños to celebrate magical run in Liga tonight

CEBU, Philippines - The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu Niños will formally turn over the national championship trophy they seized in the Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 to team owner Michel J. Lhuillier at 7:00 tonight in time for their annual Christmas party at Yayoy’s Grill and Resto Bar.

“This championship trophy means a lot not only for us for for the entire Cebuano community. This turnover may be simple but very symbolic in nature in the sense that this will be the team’s way of repaying the unflinching support accorded to us by our boss (Lhuillier),” said M. Lhuillier’s legendary coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba.

“The M. Lhuillier management has been very supportive both financially and morally to our campaign and it is just fitting that we have to strive and struggle hard to succeed in every endeavor we undertake,” said Alcoseba.

The Niños are still in state of euphoria following their historic feat. They were so dominant that they became the first team in the two-year history of the community-based league to finish a conference with a perfect record. They swept all their 21 games and capped their magical run with a 35-point rout of the MisOr Meteors to regain their title in grand fashion.

During the Super Leg last month, the Niños pursued their foes like a hungry lion looking for prey. Ranged against four of Liga’s best teams, they asserted their supremacy beyond expectations as they thrashed their rivals with an average of 25.0 points.

As an added icing to their victory cake, Woodrow Enriquez romped off with the regular season MVP award, while Stephen Padilla, who once suited upf for the Cebu Gems in the MBA and Alaska Milk and Air 21 in the PBA, ran away with the Super Leg Finals MVP.

“I encouraged my players beforehand that we have to win back the championship. We were so embarrassed when we lost our title right before our fans during the previous conference. I told them we cannot afford to lose again at home and I’m very happy and proud that we achieved our goal. Finishing the entire season undefeated is an added bonus,” said Alcoseba.—EBV   (FREEMAN NEWS)