MVBA: Lhuillier beats Cebu Landmaster, 86-67

Defending champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala - Cebu City wrested the top spot of the standings of the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference by blowing away erstwhile leader Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue, 86-67, Friday night at the New Cebu Coliseum. Both teams now tote similar 7-2 win-loss cards but M. Lhuillier holds the point differential tiebreaker, the league said in a statement Saturday. The Jewelers of Michel Lhuillier and coach Raul Alcoseba avenged their 81-83 squeaker of a loss to Landmaster last September 21. This time, M. Lhuillier made sure the outcome would be decided early and clearly. From a 10-10 standoff, Marlon Basco keyed a 10-4 run to give the Jewelers the lead for good after the first quarter, 20-14. Basco continued his offensive explosion by combining with Bruce Dacia for eight of their side's next 16 points to pull away by halftime, 36-23. Basco also shone on defense, helping limit Landmaster to only nine markers in the second canto. Landmaster gave up 17 turnovers, six short of their point total. Landmaster of Joe Soberano, Mayor Jonas Cortes and coach Jun Tan suddenly sprung back to life via a 16-5 salvo to open the third quarter led by Bong Marata and Richard Ian Saladaga that saw them threaten, 39-41. However, Basco found new scoring partners in Gerry Cavan and Jett Latonio to restore their comfortable lead entering the final period, 64-42. It was smooth sailing from there as M. Lhuillier was never threatened. Danny Aying fired a triple that erected the biggest lead of the game, 71-46, early in the final period. Landmaster simply did their best to trim the final deficit behind the late forays of Marata, Christian Nicdao, Allain Abellanosa and Jimwell Torion. The Jewelers' s victory was marred by the ejection of Cavan with 3:27 to play after he landed a cheap shot on Harold Santa Cruz that sent the Landmaster forward grimacing in pain on the floor. Overall, both teams coughed up a combined 51 turnovers, 29 against Landmaster. Basco and Cavan led M. Lhuillier with 16 points each followed by Latonio with 12. Marata paced Landmaster with 17 while Saladaga added 14. The usually prolific pair of Mark Yee and Mike Manigo could only combine for seven points, with Manigo sustaining an ankle injury just before halftime. The MVBA takes a break and will resume games on November 5 with Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr visiting Arthro Kontra Arthritis and the Cebu Coliseum. During the break, selected MVBA teams have been invited to see action in the Niyogan Festival Basketball Tournament in Baganga, Davao Oriental, from October 23 to 27. The five-day tournament has put up a total of P280,000 in cash prizes for the winners. Scores: M. LHUILLIER-CEBU (86) - Basco 16, Cavan 16, Latonio 12, Enriquez 11, Dacia 8, Gatumbato 7, Capati 6, Aying 6, Piodo 2, Rodriguez 2, Padilla 0, Caputolan 0, Bat-og 0. CEBU LANDMASTER-MANDAUE (67) - Marata 17, Saladaga 14, Nicdao 8, Abellanosa 8, Torion 7, Yee 5, Ocañada 4, Manigo 2, Santa Cruz 2, Montalbo 0, Mangubat 0, Gloria 0. Quarters: 20-14, 36-23, 64-42, 86-67. - GMANews.TV