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Cebuana Lhuillier showed PC Gilmore why they are the Group B top team as the Gems routed the Wizards, 83-55, PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Thursday at the jam-packed Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. The win gave the Gems the first finals ticket where they will face NLEX, which scored a 74-61 win over Max! Bond in the other semis match, in a best-of-three title series starting on Tuesday. Although they led for the entire game, Cebuana struggled early in the game and even committed three 24-second violations. PC Gilmore's Carlo Lastimosa and Jett Vidal fired three straight three-pointers, to push the Wizards within two, 26-24. But Cebu's big men, led by former University of the East Red Warrior Pari Llagas, took over for the Gems both on offense and defense to slowly pull away. Alwin Elinon, who came in to replace Llagas in the second period, sparked an 8-0 run late in the third canto to keep the Wizards at bay. Llagas was pulled out in the second quarter to rest his pulled right hamstring. Cebu did not let up and continued to pile up the points at the free throw line and inside the paint against the already demoralized PC Gilmore side. Although holding a double-digit lead and failing to score in the game’s final two minutes, the Gems' defense made sure the Wizards won’t make a late-scoring run. "We're not yet finished with our goal and that is to win the championship," said Llagas, who paced the Gems with 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Cebuana Lhuillier coach said he expect the best-of-three finals series to be tight since they will be facing Group A top seed NLEX. – Mav C. Gonzales, JVP, GMA News
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