Misamis nears TOP crown

MANILA, Philippines - Misamis Oriental moved into the threshold of becoming the first champion team in the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) Conference I with a 75-71 victory over M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu in Game 3 of their title series Friday at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro.

Patrick Cabahug kept his fiery form as he finished with 23 points while Reed Juntilla got his shooting touch back to fire 19 points, including the team’s last five points.

The win gave the Meteors a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five title series in the tournament organized by the Philippine Basketball League and Liga Pilipinas.

“If there is a formula for a sure win I would gladly use it,” said Meteors coach Jun Noel whose team almost blew a 12-point lead into the fourth period.

“But credit should go to the players because they showed their heart and courage as they never lost their confidence despite a big rally by Cebu,” added Noel.

Cabahug, the one-time scoring champion in the UAAP while playing for Adamson, came through with two clutch baskets, including one against forward Marlon Basco that enabled then to regain the lead for good.

Juntilla then took over the show, splitting his charities before nailing a top of the key jumper that stretched their lead to four, 73-69.

Stephen Padilla, who fired two triples in a 16-2 run that gave the Ninos a 66-64 advantage with 5:48 left, made two free throws but Basco committed his fifth personal on a driving Juntilla with 22 seconds left in the contest.

The Ninos got a chance to tie the count after Juntilla split again his charities but Padilla’s long bomb rimmed out with Froilan Baguion losing the ball to the baseline.

He then fouled Juntilla in the hope that that former Harbour Centre star would miss his two free throws with two seconds left.

But Juntilla made his first free throw before deliberately missing his second one to secure the win.

Padilla had 16 points while Mepana added 12 but other key players like Bruce Dacia, Nat Cruz and Mark Magsumbol were held down to single digit output by the Meteors’s sticky defense.

The scores

MisOr 75 - Cabahug 23, Juntilla 19, Daa 8, Raneses 7, Andaya 6, Misa 2, Moreno, 2 Saldua 2, Lamocha 2, Reguera 2, Taganas 1, Tagupa 0, Lucernas 0.

MLKP-Cebu 71 - Padilla 16, Mepana 12, Dacia 8, Baguion 8, Cruz 6, Saladaga 6, Basco 5, Magsumbol 4 Santos 2, Ababon 2, Ybanez 2, Mondragon 0, Nailon 0.

Quarters: 17-18, 39-30, 62-50, 75-71.