Lhuillier, Fifth Avenue subdue opponents at MVBA Sinulog Cup

Games Wednesday 20 January 2008 New Cebu Coliseum 4:30 p.m. - M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City vs. Hotel Fortuna-Boljoon/Pharex Medics 6 p.m. - Fifth Avenue Telecoms vs. Montaña Pawnshop-Davao/Toyota-Balintawak M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City and Fifth Avenue Telecoms both needed extra time but they subdued their rivals in the M. Lhuillier Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Sinulog Cup on Monday night at the New Cebu Coliseum. Defending champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City banked on the heroics of Dale Singson to whip Montaña Pawnshop-Davao, 116-107 in the first game. In the second game, it was the turn of Ferdinand Go to bail out Fifth Avenue Telecoms to beat Hotel Fortuna-Boljoon, 103-99. Monday's winners remained undefeated in two games and thus earned automatic seats in Wednesday's crossover semifinals, according to a league statement issued on Tuesday. Lhuillier vs Montaña, 116-107 Singson hit a triple with six ticks to play in regulation to tie the count at 100-all. In the extension, Singson sizzled with five markers and Marlon Basco shot steadily from the foul line and completed a three-point play off Harold Santa Cruz with 1:28 remaining for an unassailable 113-107 M. Lhuillier advantage. Fifth Avenue vs Hotel Fortuna, 103-99 In the second game, Go nearly turned goat as he missed a free throw with 22 seconds left in regulation to keep Fifth Avenue ahead, 89-86. In the ensuing sequence, Morsie Akad converted a triple at the 10-second mark to send the game into overtime, 89-all. The Hotel Fortuna quintet of coach Elmer Cabahug opened with an 8-0 run in the extension. However, Fifth Avenue countered with a 9-0 run of their own, capped by Go redeeming himself with a triple that pushed his side on top, 100-97, with 28 seconds left. Hotel Fortuna did not give up, with Von Harry Lanete threatening with two charities off Jeff Sanders, 99-100. Chris Diputado then fouled Mark Yee at the nine-second mark and the gamble paid off as Yee split his gift shots, 101-99. Collaring the defensive rebound and a golden chance to tie or go ahead, Hotel Fortuna issued a wild pass that sailed out of bounds. Yee was again fouled and this time made both free throws for the final count. Scores First Games: M. Lhuillier-Cebu (116); – Basco 24, Dacia 24, Enriquez 14, Singson 14, Capati 13, Padilla 12, Cavan 8, Bat-og 3, Llanto 2, Aying 2 Montaña-Davao (107): – Fernandez 32, Abañes 15, Clavel 9, Poloyapoy 8, Ayson 8, Lamocha 8, Santa Cruz 7, Guiyab 6, Quibod 5, Manigo 4, Braga 3, Jawod 2, Dawal 0 Quarters: 26-25, 52-43, 71-68, 100-100 (reg.), 116-107 (OT) Second Games Fifth Avenue (103): – Yee 18, Sanders 18, Go 13, Malabanan 13, Vergara 12, Salangsang 10, Lim 5, Labagala 4, David 3, Zagala 2, Moody 2, Litonjua 2, Buenaventura 1 Hotel Fortuna-Boljoon (99): – Akad 20, Berame 19, Sevilla 15, Dennison 14, Diputado 14, Lanete 4, Slaughter 4, Sendrijas 4, Lao 3, Luga 2, Paglinawan 0, Cincoflores 0, Getubig 0 Quarters: 22-19, 44-44, 67-67, 89-89 (reg.), 103-99 (OT)

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