Cebu eyes third leg triumph; Quezon hosts week five

CEBU EYES THIRD LEG TRIUMPH;

QUEZON HOSTS WEEK FIVE

Games on July 16

(Quezon)

3 p.m. – Baguio vs. Ilocos Sur

5 p.m. – Misamis Oriental vs. Quezon

(Cebu)

3 p.m. – Pampanga vs. Zamboanga

5 p.m. – Laguna vs. Cebu

CEBU, July 15 – The Cebu Ninos, momentarily eclipsed from top of the standings by the dazzling Pagadian Explorers, seek to reclaim solo leadership when they host Wednesday the southern leg of Week 5 of the Liga Pilipinas Tour elimination phase at the New Cebu Coliseum.

The M.L. Kwarta Padala-backed double-leg winners, currently ranked second in the qualification round with 20 points behind the idle Explorers, take on the Trace Laguna Stallions at the featured game at 5 p.m. following the curtain-raiser pitting the Pampanga Buddies, champions in Week 2, against the Zamboanga Amores.

Over at the Quezon Convention Center, the Baguio Victory clash with the Ilocos Sur Bravehearts at 3 p..m., while the Misamis Oriental Meteors collide with the host Quezon Red Oilers at 5 p.m.

With two first place finishes and a runnerup showing, the Explorers pace the field with 29 points, gathering momentum for their quarterfinal drive.

Close behind Cebu at third are the Taguig Batang Global with 23 points, Pampanga, 4^th with 20 points, Lipa-Batangas, (5^th/17 pts.), Ilocos Sur (6^th/12 pts.), Tagaytay-Cavite (7^th/12 pts), Baguio (8^th/10 pts.), Misamis Oriental (9^th/9 pts.), Laguna (10^th/4 pts), Zamboanga (11^th/3 pts.), Iloilo (12^th/3 pts.), and Quezon (13^th/2 pts.)

Based on Tour points at the end of the qualification round, the top four teams will advance to the quarterfinal, while the next eight teams undergo a wildcard showdown, with the 5^th- to the 8^th-ranked squad enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage.

A leg winner earns 10 points on top of its won game bonus (1 point per win), the runnerup gets five, and the third placer three points.

Pagadian ruled the Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga legs, while Cebu was tops in the Ilocos Sur and Pagadian stages. Taguig, Pampanga, and Lipa-Batangas emerged winners after respectively playing hosts in their hometowns.

In the Week 1 finals, Pagadian routed Baguio, 63-49 in Misamis Oriental, while Cebu downed host Ilocos Sur, 98-78.

In Week 2, Pampanga edged Tagaytay-Cavite in a championship thriller, 78-77, while Week 3 saw Cebu denying Pagadian at home in the title game, 72-67, and Taguig defending the fort, 81-75, against invading Pampanga.

Lipa defeated Tagaytay-Cavite, 81-72, in the final of Week 4 in Batangas, and Pagadian shelled Taguig, 83-56, in Zamboanga.

Cebu leads Liga Pilipinas team standings

LIPA CITY (July 8, 2008) – Double-leg winner Cebu, on the strength of its triumphs in Ilocos Sur and Pagadian, leads the Liga Pilipinas team standings with 24 Tour points, fortifying the Ninos' bid for an outright quarterfinal berth with two more stops in their schedule.

The Pampanga Buddies, who won the second leg before their hometown crowd in San Fernando, rank second with 20 points, followed by the Pagadian Explorers, champions in the Misamis Oriental leg, with 17, and fellow leg winner Taguig Batang Global, 16 points.

Completing the standings are: Misamis Oriental (9), Ilocos Sur (7), Baguio (6), Tagaytay-Cavite (6), Laguna (4), Lipa-Batangas (4), Zamboanga (3), (Iloilo 2), and Quezon (2).

As per tournament format, each of the 13 participating teams – on the way to competing in four different legs – will host one qualification round tourney to complete a total of 13 legs.

Already, Misamis Oriental, Ilocos Sur, Pampanga, Taguig, and Pagadian have played hosts to five recently concluded legs, with Lipa-Batangas and Zamboanga housing competitors in Week 4.

Based on its finish in each of the four legs assigned it, a team will be awarded Tour points – 10 points to the champion, five to the runnerup, and three to the third-placer, on top of its won game points (1 for every victory in the elimination) – to determine the standings at the end of the qualification round.

The top four teams with the highest points advance to the quarterfinals, while the next eight teams go through a wildcard phase where the 5^th-ranked to the 8^th-ranked team enjoy twice-to-beat privileges against the 9^th- to 12^th-placed squads.

Kicking off hostilities at the provincial capital of Batangas today are the Iloilo Mang Inasals against the Baguio Victory at 3 p.m., followed by the featured game pitting the host Barakos against the Tagaytay-Cavite Heroes at 5 p.m.

Over in Zamboanga, the Pagadian Explorers, winners in Week 1 at the Misamis Oriental leg, and the Batang Global, victors in Week 3 in Taguig, collide at 3 p.m., while the Bravehearts of Ilocos and the hometown favotire Amores take the court at 5 p.m.

Liga Pilipinas: Cebu rules Northern leg, Pagadian tops Southern phase

LIGA PILIPINAS

Cebu rules Northern leg;

Pagadian tops Southern phase

CAGAYAN de Oro – Mark Yee displayed his valuable leadership to Pagadian late Sunday evening, posting a double-double in steering the Explorers to a spectacular comeback by blasting the Baguio Victory, 63-49, in the final of the maiden southern phase of Liga Pilipinas at the Xavier University gym here.

Yee had 15 points and 11 rebounds, getting adjudged Best Player of the Misamis Oriental leg.

Comparatively deficient in size but overflowing in aggressiveness, the Explorers controlled the boards, 45-36, and held the Victory, who trailed 17-7 and never recovered, to 28 percent from the floor (16-of-58).

Pagadian's defense also forced 17 Baguio turnovers.

In the battle for third place, local boy Eric de la Cuesta unloaded 18 points to lead the MisOr Meteors past the Trace Laguna Stallions, 82-77.

Meanwhile, at the People's Coliseum in Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur, the Cebu Ninos downed the host Bravehearts, 98-78, in the northern leg final.

Taguig, on the other hand, ripped Quezon, 79-68, for third place.

Scores: (Northern leg)

1^st Game

TAGUIG 79 – Marquez 21, Latoreno 13, Gatumbato 12, Ortiguerra 9, Rodriguez 9, Reguera 5, Matias 4, Bombeo 2, Bautista 2, De Leon 2, Vijandre 0, Ripalda 0, Javier 0, Fajardo 0.

QUEZON 68 – Chua 11, Mondragon 9, Casino 7, Macanig 8, Panzo 7, Garrido 6, Lingao Lingao 6, Canizares 5, Williams 4, Alcala 3, Oabel 2,Manabat 0, Bolado 0, Mendoza 0,

Quarters: Taguig- 14-16; 27-35; 47-49; 79-68

2^ND Game

CEBU 98 – Rodriguez 21,Dacia 20, Basco 16, Capati 13, Padilla 9, Berami 8, Ababon 6, Cavan 3, Saladaga 2, Aying 0, Mepana 0, Atablanco 0, Luga 0.

ILOCOS 78 – Malabanan 19, Basilides 13, Kalaw 9, Guiyab 9, Cabatu 5, Hugnatan 7, Lopez 4, Saldua 4, Balares 4, Castro 2, Reyes 2, Prado 1, Codamon 0, Ico 0.

Quarters: 22-19; 48-42; 71-55; 98-78

(Southern leg)

1^st Game

MISAMIS ORIENTAL 82 – De la Cuesta 18, Saguindel 15, Concha 11, Nailon 10, Espiritu 8, Faundo 7, Tadena 5, Farochilen 4, Tagupa 4, Caputolan 0.

LAGUNA 77 – Losentes 24, Gaco 16, Angeles 8, Ricafuente 8, Santos 7, Dedicatoria 6, Retaga 4, Raymundo 2, Cruz 2, Valderama 0.

Quarters: 16-17; 31-35; 57-52; 82-77.

2^ND Game

PAGADIAN 63 – Yee 15, Villaver 14, Labagala 8, Daja 7, Kong 6, Orquillas 5, Sinco 4, Saludsod 2, Quilo 2. Singedas 0, Cortes 0, Musni 0.

BAGUIO 49 – Sta. Maria 13, Mangahas 7, Tiongson 6, Ton 6, Basto 5, Al. Gamboa 5, Ar. Gamboa 4, White 3, Pupos 0, Cariño 0, Lujero 0.

Quarters: 24-11; 36-22; 52-39; 63-49.