Cebu wallops host MP Warriors, 76-65

  GENERAL SANTOS City – Cebu Landmasters RDAK-Mandaue grabbed its third weekly championship by walloping the host MP Warriors of GenSan, 76-65, at the close of the General Santos City Leg of the SMC Liga PilipinasConference V at the GMP Sports Complex Saturday night.  More importantly, the team of Joe Soberano and Rick King is already assured of topping the overall standings with one more pocket tournament to be played next week in Cagayan de Oro City.

     Guard Ariel Capus put up a scorching shooting display in the fourth period as Mandaue turned the once-tight game wide open via his three triples and near-flawless shooting clip.  Mark Magsumbol and Marlon Basco also provided timely baskets that kept the MP Warriors in check.

     Capus finished with 27 points on 11 of 14 shooting plus eight rebounds.  Magsumbol supported him with 14 and Basco with 12.  Louie Medalla paced the Warriors with 13 markers followed by Jonathan Parreno with nine.

     For his good play when it mattered most, Capus was named as the week’s Most Valuable Player.  The former Jose Rizal University Bomber dedicated the award to his family, calling them his inspiration to do his best all the time.

     Mandaue coach Jun Tan also became the sixth coach in Liga history to garner three or more weekly titles.  The list includes Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, Jun Noel, Nomar Isla, Oliver Bunyi and Bing Victoria.

     Meanwhile, the Ilocos Sur CS Tigers of Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson and Coach Johnedel Cardel ended their sojourn on a positive note by copping Third Place at the expense of the Laguna Golden Lions of Gov. ER Ejercito and CoachPhilip Cezar, 82-79.

     The CS Tigers picked up three points and finished the Tour Phase with a total of 15, a point better than the MP Warriors.  However, the Warriors will still see action this week thus putting the Tigers’ hopes in jeopardy.  The Golden Lions are secured for the Super Leg with 19 points, good for Third Place in the current overall standings.

     Ariel de Castro led the Tigers with 18 points and Chito Jaime added 11 as the duo made a living off the 11 assists of Warren Ybanez.  Glenn Bolocon set a new conference standard of 30 points and EJ Feihl played his best game yet with 14 points and eight rebounds but their efforts went to naught.

     The Misamis Oriental Meteors and Gov. Oscar S. Moreno will host the sixth and final leg starting Wednesday at the Xavier University Gym as they tangle with Mandaue, GenSan and the defending National Champion M. LhuillierKwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos.  Liga Pilipinas is generously supported by San Miguel, Molten, Summit Natural Drinking Water and Accel.

How They Scored:

For Third Place

     ILOCOS SUR (82) – de Castro 18, Jaime 11, Canizares 10, Williams 8, Sanders 7, Gonzalez 7, Aguilar 7, Ybanez 6, Vizcarra 4, Taylor 2, Palaganas 2, Zablan 0, Junio 0, Santos 0.

     LAGUNA (79) – Bolocon 30, Feihl 14, Sanz 13, Saguindel 4, Fampulme 4, Mercado 4, Glorioso 3, Legaspi 3, Ricafuente 2, Asoro 2, Flores 0.

     Period Scores: 20-22, 45-40, 64-55, 82-79.

Championship

     MANDAUE (76) – Capus 27, Marlon Basco 14, Magsumbol 12, Doruelo 6, Dedicatoria 6, Sta. Cruz 5, Mondragon 4, Guiyab 2, Losentes 0, Villaver 0.

     GENERAL SANTOS (65) – Medalla 13, Parreno 9, Nicdao 7, Musni 7, Sagad 7, Mendoza 7, Alfad 6, Cordero 4, Pacquiao 2, Angeles 2, Callo 1, Bucao 0.

      Period Scores: 24-21, 35-33, 52-53, 76-65.PR

Liga Pilipinas starts

Liga Pilipinas Starts
by Anthony E. Servinio for gameface.ph (08/19/09)

Games Today (August 19) – New Cebu Coliseum
4:00 PM Quezon Red Oilers vs. Trace-Laguna Stallions
6:00 PM M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala- Cebu Ninos vs. MP Warriors of GenSan

CEBU CITY – The road to redemption for the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos begin today as they host the kick off leg of the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III at the New Cebu Coliseum.

The unpredictable MP Warriors of GenSan of boxing immortal Manny Pacquiao and Coach Ramon Pido will take first crack at the host Ninos in the main game at 6:00 PM. The 4:00 PM appetizer will showcase Southern Luzon stalwarts the Quezon Red Oilers of Gov. Raffy Nantes and Coach Oliver Bunyi and the Trace-Laguna Stallions of Atty. Erwin Genuino and Coach Nomar Isla.

The Ninos of Michel J. Lhuillier and Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba hope to return to the top of the Liga Pilipinas roost after they ceded the crown to the Misamis Oriental Meteors in a classic five-game series last April 20. The Meteors took the fifth and final match, 64-52, in front of a stunned SRO crowd at the Cebu Coliseum.

To prepare for Conference III, Coach Alcoseba made revisions to the Ninos’ roster, with only nine players from Conference II joining a two returnees and a newcomer.

Veterans led by Conference I MVP Marlon Basco, Bruce Dacia, Abby Santos, Woodraw Enriquez, Stephen Padilla, Alex Cainglet, Mark Ababon, Ariel Mepana and Rino Berame will be back in the Cebu jersey. Returnees Ian Saladaga and Frank Nailon will take another tour of duty with the multi-titled ball club after playing elsewhere last conference. The lone newcomer on the squad is 6’3” forward Jan Malinao out of the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

Pacquiao is expected to grace the occasion with the possibility of suiting up for his very own Warriors. The Warriors’ core remains intact with 6’5” center Christian Cabatu and veteran point guard Jomer Rubi as the only major additions. Cabatu will patrol the frontline with Dondon Mendoza, Weng Farochillen, Jaypee Locsin, Dave Sagad and Jasper Callo while Rubi will give stability to the team that has prolific scorers Bob Ilanga, Dennis Concha, Louie Medalla, Apol Coronado, Jethrone Recustodio, Dondon Tadena, Jonjon Gonzaga and rookie Anthony Timon.

Coach Bunyi will make their Conference III debut missing a lot of his key guns from Conference II. He has elevated several players from their reserve pool while making some new acquisitions. Leading the charge for the Red Oilers will be point guard Roberts Labagala and wingman Mark Magsumbol. Still donning the Quezon uniform is center Erik Suguitan, forwards Jonathan Pinera, Kim Macanig and Fernando de Leon and guards Ryan Panzo, Jerome Chua, Alex Orias, Dennis Casino and Christian Gavina. Center Galen Cacha and forwards Unik Reyes and Luis Palaganas are the newcomers.

Meanwhile, the Stallions sport a new look with 10 returnees but four key additions. Coach Isla retained guards Alex Angeles, Axel Doruelo and Ricky Ricafuente, center Marlon Legaspi and forwards Gerwin Gaco, Jay-Arr Estrada, RB Mangahas, Rob Sanz, Glenn Bolocon and Jan Villaver. However, the Stallions have signed up do-it-all point guard Khiel Misa and tall Liga veterans Ronald Capati, Alfie Grijaldo and Alain Musni.

The four teams will play a single-round robin, with the top two teams disputing the leg championship in a one-game affair this coming Saturday. Liga Pilipinas Conference III is made possible by Smart,Molten, Accel, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington with media partners Solar Sports and Viva Prime.

Completing the 10-team Conference III roster are the Smart-Pampanga Buddies, Taguig Batang Global, Zamboanga Zambos, Bacolod Mang Inasals (formerly Iloilo) and expansion club Mandaue Landmaster. They will make their debut in the coming weeks.