Niños complete three-game sweep

CEBU, Philippines - High-flying forward Bruce Dacia hit bigtime shots at crunchtime as the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños warded off a courageous challenge by the MisOr Meteors all throughout the 40-minute skirmish to squeeze out a 78-73 victory and complete a three-game elimination round sweep in the sixth leg of the PBL/Liga Pilipinas Tournament of the Philippines at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today(Cebu Coliseum)

For third - 4 pm Taguig vs. Mandaue

Championship - 6 pm Cebu vs. MisOr

With the way the two protagonists fought last night, the spectators could expect another swashbuckling showdown when the Niños and Meteors clash anew today for the championship in a winner-take-all affair. Gametime is set at 7 pm, right after the battle for third place between the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters and the Hobe Bihon-Taguig Global City.

Curiously, Dacia was whistled for three successive fouls before his sudden explosion that catapuled the Niños to their 28th straight victory counting their amazing 21-0 streak in the last conference of Liga Pilipinas.

When the Meteors crawled back from a 36-45 deficit and close within four points, 67-71, with still 3:19 left in the contest, Dacia nailed a crucial basket to the delight of the pro-Cebuano crowd.

The Meteors further threatened at 71-73 with 1:30 to go but Dacia sank a back-breaking triple before converting a tough layup that broke the backs of the MisOr visitors with a minute left to play. Neither side could come up with one good offensive play the rest of the way.

Dacia scored nine of his 16 points in a spectacular fourth-quarter assault. It was Marlon Basco though who topscored for the Niños with 19 points, while Stephen Padilla and Ariel Mepaña tossed in 10 markers apiece.

Eder Saldua led the Meteors with 21 points, while Neil Rañeses, Ronald Lamocha, Patrick Jan Cabahug banged in 40 points combined in a losing cause.

Although the Niños built an 11-point advantage early in the second period, it was practically a close encounter that was accounted for four deadlocks and 14 lead changes.

The Niños were outclassed by the Meteors in almost all departments, but their excellent defense and big fighting heart mattered most when the final buzzer honked.

The scores

Cebu (78) - Basco 19, Dacia 16, Padilla 10, Mepaña 10, Ybañez 8, Santos 6, Magsumbol 4, Ababon 3, Nailon 2

MisOr (73) - Saldua 21, Rañeses 18, Lamocha 12, Cabahug 10, Andaya 4, Misa 4,Taganas 2, Tagupa 2

Quarterscores:18-18;43-34;64-54;78-73. – THE FREEMAN