METEORS, NINOS WIN AS LIGA ZAMBO LEG BEGINS

STANDINGS (W-L)

Misamis Oriental Meteors 1-0

M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padal-Cebu Ninos 1-0

Zamboanga Uno Latinos 0-1

EKB-Apayao Rapids 0-1



Games Today (October 30) – Zamboanga City Coliseum

4:00 PM Misamis Oriental Meteors vs. M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos

6:00 PM Zamboanga Uno Latinos vs. EKB-Apayao Rapids



METEORS, NINOS WIN AS LIGA ZAMBO LEG BEGINS



ZAMBOANGA CITY – There may be two more legs to play before the elimination phase ends and a wildcard round to settle but with the way the Misor Meteors and Cebu Ninos are playing, it looks like they are on a collission course for a rematch of last conference's National Finals.



The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos tallied to their 13th straight victory in as many games by whipping the host Zamboanga Uno Latinos while the defending national champions Misor Meteors coasted to an easy win against expansion Apayao Rapids to begin action at the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Zamboanga City Leg at the Zamboanga City Coliseum Wednesday night.



Cebu toyed with the smaller Latinos and engineered a flawless 123-97 rout of host Zamboanga behind the 29 points of Stephen Padilla to remain perfect in their leg assignments. The Latinos need to finish at least in Third Place in this their final leg assignment in order to make the playoffs for seats in next month’s Super Leg that will determine the next National Champion of the conference supported by Smart, Molten, Accel, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). The Ninos of Michel Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba are assured of an outright berth and are gunning for the rare "golden 60" or a perfect record in their four legs should they sweep in Zamboanga.



In the first game, the defending National Champion Misamis Oriental Meteors of Gov. Oscar S. Moreno fueled their hopes of gaining an outright Super Leg seat with a 95-64 dumping of the EKB-Apayao Rapids of Gov. Elias K. Bulut. Patrick Cabahug top scored with 28 markers.



The Meteors under Coach Jun Noel flexed the same deadly form that made them win the tough Second China-ASEAN Invitational last week in Guangxi Zhuang, China where they represented the Philippines and defended the crown won by Smart Gilas last year.



“The China trip raised the players’ individual confidence and bonded the team closer,” said Coach Noel. “We learned a lot playing against taller opponents and our outside shooters clicked well.”



The Meteors need to work extra hard tonight when they face their perennial archrival Ninos today at 4:00 PM at the close of the preliminary round. In the main game, the Latinos will meet the Rapids starting at 6:00 PM. The two best teams will meet in Saturday’s one-game leg championship.



Choice games from the Zamboanga City Leg will be aired next week on Solar Sports from Wednesday to Saturday. Also, Liga Pilipinas Classics are seen daily on Viva Prime Channel. For more information, visit www.ligapilipinas.net.