ILOCOS CS TIGERS, CEBU NINOS SECURE FINALS BERTHS

Games on April 30 – Santo Domingo People’s Center 4:00 PM Laguna Golden Lions vs. MP Warriors of GenSan (for Third Place) 6:00 PM Ilocos Sur CS Tigers vs. M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos (Championship) ILOCOS CS TIGERS, CEBU NINOS SECURE FINALS BERTHS      SANTO DOMINGO, Ilocos Sur – Host Ilocos Sur CS Tigers and defending champion M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos trounced separate opponents Thursday night (April 28) to arrange a winner-take-all showdown Saturday for the championship of the SMC Liga Pilipinas Conference V Ilocos Sur Leg at the Santo Domingo People’s Center.      Pint-sized guard Warren Ybanez was the biggest man of the night as he scored 10 of his team-high 19 points in the crucial fourth period rally that lifted the CS Tigers of Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singsonand Coach Johnedel Cardel past the Laguna Golden Lions of Gov. ER Ejercito and Coach Nomar Isla, 82-78.      Ybanez combined with Ramsey Williams to slowly eat away at the Lions’ advantage, capped by a Jemal Vizcarra basket that gave them the lead for the first time in the second half, 75-73.  Bryan Faundo quickly equalized but Chito Jaime pushed the hosts ahead for good, 77-75, and 1:18 to play.      Ybanez then proved steady from the free throw line as he made four of his six attempts in the final minute to maintain their lead.  The Lions had one last chance to tie the score but Ricky Ricafuente fired a hurried triple with eight ticks remaining and the Tigers on top, 81-78.  Vizcarra added another free throw for the final tally.      Williams followed up his superb play yesterday with 15 points and eight assists.  Ybanez added 10 rebounds on top of his 19 points.  Glenn Bolocon led the Lions with 20 points and nine rebounds. Faundo followed with 15 points and 11 rebounds.      In the curtain-raiser, the Ninos of Michel Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba played cautiously for three periods before pouring it all out in the final minutes to whip the MP Warriors of GenSan of Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Coach Arvin Bonleon, 98-75.      On top by nine entering the final period, 69-60, the Ninos turned to rookie Ferdinand Lusdoc of Bohol Institute of Technology who banged in six points to power a 17-5 run that immediately settled the outcome, 86-65.  So relentless were the Ninos that they further stretched their lead to as high as 25 points, 96-71.      Jayford Rodriguez converted all of his team-best 24 points in the first three periods, on top of 10 rebounds to earn Best Player honors.  Abby Santos also dominated the inside with 19 points and 11 rebounds.  Christopher Concepcion and Alfie Grijaldo paced the Warriors with 12 points each.      The still winless Warriors and Lions will dispute Third Place.  Friday night’s games thus became previews of Saturday’s fixtures with the teams aiming for valuable points in the SMC Liga standings. How They Scored: First Game      M. LHUILLIER-CEBU (98) – Rodriguez 24, Santos 19, Lusdoc 12, Nailon 10, Abadia 9, Saladaga 9, Baguion 5, Belano 5, Padilla 3, Cruz 2, Ababon 0, Raymundo 0.      GEN. SANTOS (75) – Grijaldo 12, Concepcion 12, Nicdao 11, Parreno 11, Angeles 10, Cordero 6, Medalla 5, Mendoza 4, Bucao 2, Alih 2, Sagad 0, Callo 0.      Period Scores: 22-22, 42-39, 69-60, 98-75. Second Game      ILOCOS SUR (82) – Ybanez 19, Williams 15, Vizcarra 13, Jaime 12, E. Sta. Maria 9, de Castro 6, Cacha 4, Agacer 4, Gonzales 0, Junio 0, Santos 0.      LAGUNA (78) – Bolocon 20, Faundo 15, Ricafuente 13, Bautista 8, Fampulme 8, Mercado 4, Sanz 4, Feihl 4, Saguindel 2, Glorioso 0, Ejercito 0.      Period Scores: 18-18, 30-44, 55-61, 82-78.PR