MVBA: MisOr Medics beat Pacquiao Warriors, 77-65, for 3rd division title

Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr gained its third straight Mindanao Division title after defeating Manny Pacquiao's Warriors-GenSan, 77-65, in Game 3 of their best-of-three series at the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Second Conference Monday at the Almendras Gym in Davao City. Trailing 2-5 early in the game, Mindanao Division MVP Lowell Briones powered an 18-3 run that gave MisOr the lead for good, 20-8, according to a MVBA statement issued on Wednesday. The Warriors threatened to catch up several times, the last time of which at 52-55 with 7:36 left in the game. Briones finished with 24 points to lead the way for MisOr and secure the Most Valuable Player award. Mark Moreño followed with 13 points and five steals, while Tagupa had 12. Donald Tadena and Apol Coronado were the lone bright spots for the Warriors with 20 and 19 points respectively, as the rest of the team submitted below-par numbers. MisOr now awaits the Visayas Division champion in the best-of-three MVBA Finals tentatively set for the second week of December. MisOr won the 2007 First Conference and would like to score a sweep of this year's two conferences. Over at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Center, Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue of Joe Soberano and coach Jun Tan fashioned a 72-64 triumph over Arthro Kontra Arthritis-Cebu to advance to the Visayas Division Finals against waiting M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City starting Wednesday night at the New Cebu Coliseum. Landmaster finished the series, 2-1, winning the last two games. Bong Marata topped Landmaster with 19 points followed by Mike Manigo with 12 and Mark Yee with 10. Scores Holcim Price-MisOr vs MP Warriors-GenSan Holcim Pryce-MisOr (77): Briones 24, Moreño 13, Tagupa 12, Nailon 9, Cruz 8, Sanchez 5, Numeran 4, Concha 2, Abadia 0, Sevilla 0, Jabagat 0 MP Warriors-Gensan (65): Tadena 20, Coronado 19, Menor 8, Farochillen 6, Daja 6, Recustodio 4, Dennison 2, Rubi 0, Ramos 0, Locsin 0, Medalla 0 Quarters: 22-13, 38-35, 55-48, 77-65 Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue vs Arthro-Cebu Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue (72): Marata 19, Manigo 12, Yee 10, Santa Cruz 8, Nicdao 5, Mangubat 5, Saladaga 5, Abellanosa 3, Ocañada 3, Gloria 2 Arthro-Cebu (64): Cainglet 10, Justiniani 10, Berame 10, Ursal 9, Bucao 8, Ababon 7, Mercado 6, Almacin 2, Garcia 2 Quarters: 20-9, 30-27, 50-49, 72-64

- GMANews.TV