Game Today (November 19) – Almendras Gym
6:00PM Duterte Agilas-Goldstar Hardware vs. Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr
DAVAO CITY – Playoff action in the 2007 Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) hits high gear as the Goldstar Hardware-sponsored Duterte Agilas-Davao hosts Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr tonight in Game One of their Mindanao Division Wild Card best-of-three series at the Almendras Gym.
Both teams had a preview of each other last night (November 18) in a match that completed the 30-game classification round schedule of the league sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) and bankrolled by ML Kwarta Padala, Nature's Spring, Sulpicio Lines, Accel, Cokaliong Shipping, Reva Sandals, Gameface.Ph and Nike Basketball. The results were pending at press time. Regardless, it would not have an effect on the final playoff positions.
MisOr currently holds a 3-6 win-loss card while the Agilas are at 1-8.
MisOr of Gov. Oscar Moreno will host Game Two on November 21 at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro. If needed, Game Three will be played immediately the next day, still at the Xavier Gym. The wild card series winner will go on to face the idle MP Warriors-GenSan in the best-of-three Mindanao Division Finals. The Warriors of boxing idol Manny Pacquiao topped the Mindanao Division with an even 5-5 win-loss card.
In their first meeting this conference held last October 8, MisOr pulverized the Agilas at the Xavier Gym, 100-89. Nat Cruz exploded for 24 points and Mark Apepe added 14. The Agilas drew 17 markers each from Boboy Berami, Greggy Delica and Jonjon Gonzaga.
A lot has happened since then but the above mentioned players are expected to reprise their stellar roles tonight. Winning Game One of a best-of-three series gives the winner an immense advantage.
Agilas coach Rhoel Josol can also bank on the likes of Fred Sampilo, Bob Cozy Ilanga and Wynsjohn Te for offensive punch as they start their uphill fight. The burly Berami is expected to join twin towers James Razon and Joel Solis in battling MisOr's tall front line.
The 6'5” Cruz remains MisOr's top scorer and rebounder. Coach Bong Abad has kept veterans Lowell Briones and Anton Villoria as the team's leaders and has drawn improved plays recently from guard Mark Moreño and 2007 First Conference MVP Frank Nailon.
Over in the Visayas Division, Arthro Kontra Arthritis-Cebu bucked the absence of key players to upset Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue, 81-74, in Game One of their Wild Card Series at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Center last November 16. Game Two of that series is tentatively set for November 22 at the New Cebu Coliseum with Arthro of Jonathan Guardo and Coach Al Solis in the position of securing a date with league topnotcher M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City (8-2) for the Visayas Division crown. Landmaster must sweep the next two games to advance.
The champions of Visayas and Mindanao Divisions will clash in the best-of-three MVBA Finals set for the first week of December.(Anthony E. Servinio)
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