Lhuillier takes 1st game over Osaka

CEBU CITY – Defending champion M. Lhuillier held Osaka Iridology scoreless for more than 10 minutes for a 68-65 triumph to draw first blood in the best-of-three championship series for the CBL Mayor Avelino Gungob Cup at the Consolacion Sports Complex.

All it took was a searing 19-0 run for the Jewelers to reverse the tide as the Iridologists found a tough time drilling in their long shots.

M. Lhuillier trailed by nine, 32-41, when Daryl Smith, Michael Dumdum and Aldrin Ocanada combined for a 7-0 run that trimmed the gap to just two, midway in the third canto.

Osaka retaliated with a trey by Junnel Maglasang and Rasneil Paglinawan’s putback over Smith.

But that was the last of the Iridologists who withered under the scorching defense of the Jewelers that held them without a basket for almost 12 minutes.

Osaka coach Elmer "Boy" Cabahug sued for time to stop the long drought in the final 4:59 but that proved futile as Jett Latonio held his ground against Maglasang while Smith controlled the boards.