LIGA FRONTRUNNERS CLASH AT MANDAUE LEG

POINTS STANDINGS (Win-Loss)

M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos (6-2) 22 points

Cebu Landmasters RDAK-Mandaue (4-0) 15

Laguna Golden Lions (3-5) 13

Misamis Oriental Meteors (4-4) 11

Ilocos Sur CS Tigers (4-8) 11

MP Warriors of GenSan (3-5) 7

LIGA FRONTRUNNERS CLASH AT MANDAUE LEG

     MANDAUE CITY – Four teams at the top of the SMC Liga Pilipinas Conference V overall points standings try to pull away further from the rest of the field as hosts Cebu Landmasters RDAK-Mandaue stake their undefeated record against fellow frontrunners M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos, Misamis Oriental Meteors and Laguna Golden Lions at the start of Mandaue City Leg today (June 8) at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

     Mandaue hopes to prove that their four-game sweep of the Cebu City Leg last May 21 was no fluke.  The team of Joe Soberano and Coach Jun Tan are still on a high after annexing the franchise’s first ever Liga trophy.

     Waiting for their turn at redemption are the Ninos of Michel J. Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba who absorbed back-to-back setbacks at home at the Cebu Coliseum to Mandaue, a team loaded with former Ninos led by Cebu City Leg Most Valuable Player Mark Magsumbol and Ariel Capus.

     The Ninos are pacing the six-team field with a total of 22 points from two legs.  Ilocos Sur Leg MVP Jayford Rodriguez (13.1 PPG) and Ian Saladaga (10.0 PPG) are the defending National Champions’ 1-2 scoring punch.

     While Mandaue and Cebu duke it out, the Meteors and Golden Lions also have some issues to settle on the court after the Golden Lions of Gov. ER Ejercito and newly-appointed coach Philip Cezarsuccessfully defended their home turf at the San Luis Sports Complex in taking the Laguna Leg over the Meteors, 94-92, last May 28.

     Cebu-born Glenn Bolocon was named as the MVP of the Laguna Leg and is their leading scorer with 16.6 points per game.  Center Bryan Faundo, who suddenly has become a threat on offense, follows with 12.6 PPG.

     Meanwhile, the Meteors of Gov. Oscar S. Moreno and Coach Jun Noel will bank on flashy guard Egay Billones who marked his Liga debut by immediately assuming the league’s scoring leadership at 16.8 PPG.  Billones is expected to draw a lot of help of Lyndon Gudez and Dino Daa.

     All four teams will play a single round robin with the two teams with the best records slugging it out for the weekly championship in a one-game playoff this coming Saturday.  After Mandaue City, the conference’s last two legs will be held in the cities of General Santos and Cagayan de Oro and will be immediately followed by the playoffs.

     The games of Liga Pilipinas are made possible by San Miguel, Molten, Summit Natural Drinking Water and Accel.  Drawing a bye this week are the Ilocos Sur CS Tigers and the MP Warriors of GenSan.PR