Cebu hopes for gem of a season

The Cebu Gems are sick and tired of coming up short. In 1998, they were upended by Negros in the Southern Conference. The following year, they were defeated by Manila in the National Finals. Last year, they annexed the MBA Intra-Conference Challenge title, but were ousted en route to the national finals.

This year, the Lhuillier franchise has bulked up, big-time. The core of the team has remained virtually intact, with 6-6 powerhouse Matt Mitchell not making the jump to the PBA. The MBA Slam Dunk champion would have been MVP last year had the league given out its annual awards, and so has some unfinished business. Mitchell, whose averages hovered over 20 points and 15 rebounds for the majority of the season, outright won some games in an explosive 11-game run by the Gems.

Starting with Mitchell are national team mainstays Stephen Padilla and Homer Se. Padilla is the MBA record-holder in three-point shooting with 10 in one game, while Se is a young big man who can do a little of everything.

"We really want to win an MBA championship for the people of Cebu," said Gems general manager Danny Francisco. "They truly deserve it."

What makes the Gems so fearsome now is the additional firepower of Peter Naron and Max Delantes. Naron, erstwhile team captain of the Cagayan de Oro Amigos, has been scoring in the 20s in the pre-season, while former Socsargen leader Delantes, who has averaged double figures in points and rebounds in the MBA since 1998, has done the same.

Other players to watch for are hometown favorite, 6-2 swingman Roy Lura, a versatile scorer, 6-5 former Surigao center Willy Mejia, and power forward Melvin Taguines from Pampanga. Any of them are capable of putting up big numbers or playing shutdown defense, given the chance. Because of this, head coach Tonichi Yturri has so many weapons to choose from.

In two pre-season meetings against the Philippine team, Cebu lost by 1 and 10, respectively, despite the fact that Padilla and Se were playing for the opponent. That is evidence enough that the Gems might finally bring the MBA crown to the south.