Niños vs. Landmasters in final

CEBU, Philippines - Host M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Niños and RDAK-Mandaue Cebu Landmasters last night stormed past separate foes in contrasting fashion to tally their second straight win in as many starts that assured them of a championship showdown in the Cebu City leg of SMC Liga Pilipinas Conference V at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

4 pm MisOr

vs. Ilocos Sur

6 pm M. Lhuillier-Cebu vs. RDAK-Mandaue

While the Niños of team owner Michel J. Lhuillier and decorated coach Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba had little trouble in knocking out the MisOr Meteors, 82-72, the Landmasters had to toil hard in the endgame before riding on a last-second stroke of luck to terminate the Ilocos Sur-CS Tigers via a 67-66 cliffhanger and make their first ever final appearance in the country's premiere community-based cage league.

Both sporting an unassailable 2-0 win-loss records, the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters and the M. Lhuillier-Cebu City Niños relatively turn their 6 pm encounter today into a preview of their highly-anticipated title showdown on Saturday still at the same venue. This marks for the first time in the three-year history of Liga Pilipinas that Cebu City and Mandaue slug it out in a leg finale.

Stephen Padilla cashed in 15 points packed with two consecutive triples that ripped the Meteors apart, while Mark Abadia and Bogs Raymundo connived for 22 markers for the Niños, who was in control since racing to a 15-5 start.

After they mounted a 70-58 edge with still 5:26 left to play, the Niños only allowed the Meteors to pull within six points, 68-74, as the sharp-shooting Padilla drilled in back-to-back treys sandwiching an unmolested basket by Abby Santos in an 8-0 blitz that gave the M. Lhuillier-back squad their biggest lead, 82-68, and at the same time ensured their victory with only 40 seconds left to play.

Earlier, the Landmasters of team owner Joe Soberano and coach Juan Tan turned to lady luck in marching into the final round outright.

Chasing just a hairline 65-66 deficit with only 11 seconds remaining in the contest, the Landmasters have enough time to steal the win.

Their plan was scuttled for a while when Mark Magsumbol lost handle of the ball after being pestered by Ilocos Sur defenders. Fortunately for the Landmasters, the ball gently careened into the hands of Hafer Mondragon, who was all alone at the undergoal area. Mondragon then swiftly put up the shot to the delight of the entire Mandaue bench with only a second left in the gameclock.

Ariel Capus topped RDAK-Mandaue with 14 points, while Magsumbol, still showing consistent plays for his new team, added 11 markers. (FREEMAN)