MVBA: Landmaster-Mandaue beats MP Warriors, 80-72

Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue won over the MP Warriors-GenSan, 80-72, Thursday night at the 2007 MVBA Second Conference eliminations at the Digos City Coliseum, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA). Richard Ian Saladaga made the goal that gave the Landmasters their biggest lead in the game, 68-52, early in the fourth quarter. But the Landmasters nearly squandered the 16-point lead, as the Warriors leaned on a strong 17-5 run fueled by seven points from Rolly Menor that closed the gap at 69-73 with 2:40 minutes left. Saladaga came to the rescue with another basket, and Jimwell Torion and Mike Manigo added free throws to give the Joe Soberano-owned franchise an unassailable 78-69 lead with 46 seconds to play. The Landmaster thus raised their record to 3-1 to remain the top team in the league. Saladaga led the Landmasters with 19 points, followed by Mark Yee with 16. Menor topped the Warriors with 17 points while Louie Medalla added 12. The Warriors of Manny Pacquiao and coach Ramon Pido fell to 2-3 but stayed on top of the Mindanao Division. As of this posting (Friday night), the Landmasters were playing the Goldstar Hardware-Duterte Davao Agilas on Friday night at the Almendras Gym in Davao City. The wards of coach Jun Tan will end their three-game Mindanao journey on Sunday (October 7) when they tackle Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr at the Xavier University Gym at 6 p.m. Over at the Cebu Coliseum, M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu leaned on the torrid shooting of Stephen Padilla and recent MVBA Player of the Week awardee Bruce Dacia to waylay Arthro Kontra Arthritis, 80-69. The Jewelers led all the way despite the repeated rallies of Arthro, which threatened for the last time at 62-64 with seven minutes to play. M. Lhuillier then went on 16-4 tear to finish of their foes. Alex Cainglet sank a late triple to settle the final tally. Padilla, who averaged only 6.6 points entering the game, finally broke out of his slump with seven triples en route to 24 points followed by Dacia with 17. Cainglet paced Arthro with 19 while Ronald Bucao chipped in 16. M. Lhuillier of Michel Lhuillier and coach Raul Alcoseba stayed within striking distance of Landmaster with a 4-2 card while Arthro of sports patron Jonathan Guardo and coach Al Solis fell to 1-2. Scores Digos City Game Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue (80): Saladaga 19, Yee 16, Gloria 12, Manigo 11, Torion 6, Marata 6, Mangubat 4, Santa Cruz 4, Nicdao 2, Montalbo 0, Ocanada 0 MP Warriors-GenSan (72): Menor 17, Medalla 12, Ramos 8, Lagare 8, Tadena 7, Recustodio 5, Deligero 5, Rubi 3, Daja 3, Farochillen 2, Locsin 2 Quarters: 17-19, 40-28, 64-50, 80-72 Cebu City Game M. Lhuillier-Cebu (80): Padilla 24, Dacia 17, Basco 12, Caputolan 10, Enriquez 9, Gatumbato 5, Capati 3 Arthro-Cebu (69): Cainglet 19, Bucao 16, Almacin 11, France 7, Omandam 7, Ursal 4, Mercado 2, Garcia 2, Justiniani 1 Quarters: 33-17, 41-32, 57-57, 80-69

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