PHILIPPINES, - Cebu, Misamis start TOP title clash M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu hopes to flaunt its firepower and speed as it takes on Misamis Oriental at the start of their best-of-five title series in the first Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) today at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Niños are slightly favored over the Meteors in their 6 p.m. showdown, the two teams’ third clash for a crown.
MisOr beat Cebu in five games in the second conference of Liga Pilipinas but the Niños bounced back in the succeeding tournament by blasting the Meteors, 89-54, in the finals of the Conference III Super Leg that capped Cebu’s 21-game sweep.
The Niños and the Meteors swept separate rivals in the semifinals to arrange the title showdown in the tournament jointly organized by the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas.
Cebu trounced Treston Laguna while MisOr overwhelmed Hobe Bihon-Taguig.
Ex-pros Stephen Padilla, Marlon Basco, Bruce Dacia, Warren Ybanez and Christian Coronel will again spearhead Cebu’s charge against the Meteors who will be bannered by Patrick Cabahug, Khiel Misa, Mark Andaya and Neil Raneses.
The Cebuanos won three of the four meetings against MisOr, including the leg titles held at home and in Cagayan de Oro City.