Undefeated Niños face Stallions in Liga Cebu

CEBU CITY , Philippines   – South powerhouse squad M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños and the Trace-Laguna Stallions will play for the opening leg championship of the 2009 Smart-Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Niños, aiming to regain the title they lost to Misamis Oriental Meteors in Conference 2, finished the elimination round unscathed with 3-0 while the Stallions bagged the second slot with 2-1 win-loss slate after the conclusion of the elimination round phase last Friday evening.

Cebu defeated Laguna, 78-65, Wednesday to start the Conference on a high note, before defeating the MP-GenSan Warriors, 92-75, capping it with an emphatic 87-68 win over the Quezon Red Oilers Friday.

Laguna, meanwhile, bounced back with a masterful 83-70 win over the Quezon Red Oilers Thursday and survived the endgame blitz of the Warriors for a 75-71 decision to book the last championship slot.

The Stallions used their advantage in height, size and better preparation to subdue the hard-fighting Warriors.

The game saw seven deadlocks and six lead changes with Laguna shooting better percentage, 17-of-33 against 20-of-41 at the two-point field and 7-of-20 to 6-of-22 from the three point range.

However, despite the low field goal percentage of the Warriors, they were able to score more from the field 58-55. Laguna scored 20 against 13 from the free throw line.

Laguna’s transition defense also proved to be its bread and butter as it allowed no fastbreak point in GenSan’s two attempts while scoring 11 of its six tries.

In defense Laguna took 38 against 32 rebounds, made five shotblocks and pulled five steals.

The Stallions also issued three more assists, 17-14, on its way to build the biggest lead of the game 47-34 at the 8:16 mark of the third period.