The Misamis Oriental Meteors caught the Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters/RDAK on a bad day last Thursday to prevail 59-56 and advance to the finals of the fourth leg of the Liga Pilipinas V at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
The Landmasters appeared winded and off-balanced on both ends of the floor all-game long but still managed to threaten the Meteors down the stretch.
However, clutch shots by Khiel Misa along with a missed free-throw by Marlon Basco and a passing blunder by Harold Sta. Cruz on Mandaue’s final possession proved to be too costly as the Landmasters suffered their first loss of this tournament.
New recruit Egay Billones was the lone player in double digits for MisOr with 12 points and six rebounds. Mandaue got 15 from Mark Magsumbol and 13 from Basco.
The Meteors asserted their might early on as they led, 18-9, after the first frame and kept that advantage at halftime, 30-26.
Misamis Oriental, last year’s runner up in the Liga Tournament of the Philippines, were still in front, 59-48, with 1:38 remaining.
But the hosts did not go quietly. Jan Villaver hit a three-pointer, Leo Losentes sank a layup and Basco shot a long two-pointer that allowed Mandaue to come to within four, 55-59, with 37 seconds left on the clock. The Landmasters had a shot at coming even closer but Basco split his charities, making it a one-possession game at 56-59.
Meteors big man Ken Bono had a chance to ice the game but missed both his freethrows, leaving the door ajar for the Landmasters with 4.1 seconds remaining.
The ball was rebounded by Harold Sta. Cruz but his crosscourt pass was stolen by Misa as time expired.
Mandaue was playing the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños as of press time for the other finals slot.
The Niños routed the Laguna Golden Lions, 77-61 also last Thursday.