Landmasters break Niños' hearts not once, but twice Rule Cebu City leg for their first ever title in Liga Pilipinas

CEBU, Philippines- The RDAK-Mandaue Cebu Landmasters accomplished a monumental feat no other team has ever done in the three-year history of Liga Pilipinas - vanquish the formidable three-time champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños for two consecutive games in lopsided fashion.

And winning their first ever leg championship in the country's premiere community-based league was truly an icing to behold on their victory cake.

They did that both in style.

The Landmasters last night consummated a rare four-game sweep capped by a repeat 66-49 mastery over the humbled Niños to annex the Cebu City leg crown of the SMC Liga Pilipinas Conference before a sizeable crowd at the Cebu Coliseum.

"I really could not believe until now that we will upset M. Lhuillier two times," said an esctatic Landmasters coach Jun Tan, who himself admitted during the post-game interview that he was flabbergasted in disbelief that they mauled the Niños twice especially in their titular showdown.

"I'm happy that despite we're just a new team, we have shown that we could blend well and play cohesively," added Tan.

After the final buzzer honked, some M. Lhuillier diehards shook off their heads, suggesting that they couldn't decipher the manner by which the Landmasters easily dismantled the country's undisputed king in commercial hoopdom.

And why not? The Landmasters of team owners Rick King and Joe Soberano simply buried by Niños by a staggering 24 points, 45-21, with still three minutes left before halftime. No other Liga team could lay claim to have done that.

With their stifling defense in the works aided by erratic plays and horrendous shooting by the Niños, the Landmasters had the luxury to florick their way to the historic triumph.

So decisive in clamping down their foes that the Landmasters limited the Niños to a measly two points in the first six minutes of the second period, again two points in the first seven minutes of the third quarter and three points in the first six minutes of the final canto.

Sounds amazing but the Landmasters did it at will, no wonder they further thrashed the Niños by a mind-boggling 26 points, 66-40, on a triple by Ariel Capus entering the final two-minute zone of the contest.

"I myself couldn't believe that we could beat M. Lhuillier by such a wide margin in a championship game," said Soberano. "The players really played with a big heart. They don't let themselves intimidated by their opponents," butted in King. 

The Landmasters outmuscled the Niños, 55-44, which they translated into a 32-18 advantage in points at the paint. They went 27-of-67 from the field, but the Niños ironically made only 17 out of 60 attemps from the field.

Peppery sentinel Mark Magsumbol netted 13 points but it was his consistent showing for the duration of the four-day tilt earned him his first ever leg MVP award. Curiously, Magsumbol previously donned the M. Lhuillier jersey.

Axel Doruelo banged in a game-high 21 points, while Capus chipped in 13 markers. They knocked in three triples apiece that also brought heavy damage on the battered Niños.

Former PBA standout now UV Lancers head coach Felix Belano, Jr. was the lone bright spot for the Niños with 15 points.