SMC Liga Super Leg under way

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY ,Philippines  – The five best teams begin battle today in the SMC Liga Pilipinas Conference V Super Leg at the Xavier University Gymnasium.

The teams will play a single round robin with the two teams with the best win-loss cards playing for the Liga Pilipinas National Championship in a one-game showdown on Sunday.

Leading the field is the surprising Cebu Landmasters RDAK-Mandaue which topped the six-week Tour Phase with 44 points, followed by Super Leg host Misamis Oriental Meteors and the defending National Champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños.

Rounding out the teams are the Laguna Golden Lions and the MP Warriors of GenSan.

Mandaue of co-owners Joe Soberano and Rick King won three of the six weekly championships available after their first two forgettable conferences of participation.

Historically, the team that tops the Tour Phase standings always goes home with the National Championship, a fact that adds pressure to the wards of coach Jun Tan.

Manduae is banking on shooters Mark Magsumbol (13.3 PPG), Ariel Capus (10.3 PPG) and Axel Doruelo (8.3 PPG) and defensive studs Marlon Basco and Harold Sta. Cruz.

Defense has been the key for Mandaue as they limit their opponents to a measly 66.9 a contest.

The host Meteors of Gov. Oscar S. Moreno and Coach Jun Noel have prolific scorer Egay Billones (15.3 PPG) at the helm but recent additions JayR Gerilla, Ardy Larong and Rudy Lingganay may just be what the team needs to capture their second National Championship.

Old hands Dino Daa, Neil Raneses and Ken Bono will also play big roles.

The Meteors are Liga’s best offensive unit churning out 78.8 a game.

It has been the worst conference to date for the Ninos of Michel J. Lhuillier.

Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba had to contend with a lot of player injuries and personnel changes that led to only three wins in their final 10 games, not a good way to enter the Super Leg.

M. Lhuillier’s lone twin-digit scorer Jayford Rodriguez (11.7 PPG) missed their last seven games and is still doubtful.

That leaves Allein Maliksi (9.5 PPG), Ian Saladaga (8.2 PPG) and perhaps Mark Abadia (7.6 PPG) to carry the load as the rest of team has struggled throughout the conference.

The three-time National Champions though remain dangerous.

The Laguna Golden Lions, the lone entry from Luzon, have Liga’s best scorer in swingman Glenn Bolocon who norms 16.2 PPG.

Together with center Bryan Faundo (11.3 PPG) they form a potent 1-2 punch for the team of Gov. ER Ejercito and Coach Philip Cezar.

However, two players are not enough as the rest of the team has to step up.

A good game from the likes of Rob Sanz and Boyet Bautista could be the missing link for the Golden Lions.

They got in the Super Leg via a tiebreaker with the Ilocos Sur CS Tigers for the fifth and final slot so the MP Warriors of GenSan will make the most of their chance.

The team of Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Coach Arvin Bonleon has proven they can keep pace with the top teams.

The team is hoping that Alfie Grijaldo has finally healed from a back injury that caused him to sit out eight games.

Grijaldo and guard Louie Medalla are both averaging 14.6 a game.

Support should come from Jam Alfad, Jonathan Parreno, Dondon Mendoza and Christian Nicdao, who like Grijaldo is coming off an injury.

The Super Leg is a novel concept in wherein the National Championship is decided via a weeklong tournament instead of traditionally pairing the teams in separate series.

It was last used during Conference III in 2009 that saw M. Lhuillier complete an incredible 21-game sweep of the conference.

The games of the Super Leg are made possible by San Miguel, Molten, Summit Natural Drinking Water and Accel and are televised on Basketball TV.