Holcim Pryce Medics win Game 1 vs Duterte Agilas in MVBA semis

The Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr defeated the Duterte Agilas-Davao, 92-84, in Game 1 of the Mindanao Division semifinals of the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference Monday night at the Almendras Gym in Davao City. Trailing by three with 5:47 left in the game, 71-74, MisOr went on a 21-4 run powered by Anton Villoria, Ramil Tagupa, Lowell Briones, and Frank Nailon, according to an MVBA statement issued on Tuesday. Villoria nailed a triple that gave MisOr the lead for good, 76-74, with 3:56 to play. All the Agilas could do was counter with a basket and two free throws by Boboy Berami as the game was blown apart, 92-78. With the outcome settled, MisOr allowed the Agilas to score the game's final six points in the last minute of play. A day earlier, MisOr hacked a close 87-82 decision over the Agilas to close the 30-game classification round. The Agilas looked headed to grabbing the important win, leading after three periods, 67-65. Berami, Bob Cozy Ilanga, and Wynsjohn Te conspired to rally the Agilas from a 40-49 halftime deficit. Ilanga and twin towers Joel Solis and James Razon then helped maintain the lead until Villoria's killer triple came. Overall, Villoria made 10 of his 12 points in the final quarter. Game Two of the series is set for Wednesday (November 22) at the Xavier University Gym. Should the Agilas win, the deciding Game 3 will be on Friday (November 23). The winner will face the waiting MP Warriors-GenSan of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao for the Mindanao Division championship. Nailon led the way for MisOr with a personal conference-high of 20 points, followed by Briones with 18. Berami equaled his 26-point effort set against M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City last October 11. Te finished with 13 and Razon with 12, their best efforts so far in the league. Meanwhile in Cebu City, the Arthro Kontra Arthritis-Cebu hope to defy the odds in Game 2 of the Visayas Division Semifinals against Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue Wednesday night at the New Cebu Coliseum. Arthro, coached by Al Solis, shocked Landmaster, 81-74, in Game One last November 16 at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Center. In that game, Arthro bucked the absence of key players Rino Berame and Michael Luga, who both traveled to Manila with the University of the Visayas team. Doroteo Almacin turned in a monster game with 23 points and got more than enough support from fellow gunners Alex Cainglet and Mark Ababon, who scored with 16 points apiece to key the win and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series and the chance to wrap it up. The winner of the Landmaster-Arthro series will challenge M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City in the best-of-three Visayas Division Finals. Scores Holcim Pryce-Misor (92): Nailon 20, Briones 18, Tagupa 13, Villoria 12, Moreño 10, Cruz 8, Numeran 4, Abadia 3, Concha 2, Sevilla 2, Sanchez 0 Duterte Agilas-Davao (84): Berami 26, Te 13, Razon 12, Ilanga 9, Gonzaga 8, Solis 7, Sagad 5, Atablanco 2, Mejorada 2, Sampilo 0 Quarters: 26-21, 49-40, 65-67, 92-84

- GMANews.TV