Cagayan de Oro—The rivalry that has best typified the intensity of the Liga Pilipinas will once again be put to the forefront as the reigning champions M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños will battle the Misamis Oriental Meteors today in the championship game of the Super Leg here at the Xavier University gym.
The Meteors defeated the top-seeded Mandaue-Cebu Landmasters/RDAK, 70-63, during the final day of eliminations yesterday, thus setting up a finals rematch between the two fierce rivals.
The Niños are itching to repeat over the Meteors, which they beat, 3-2, in the best-of-five finals series during the last conference.
The Meteors took control of the game in the second period, which they ended with a 10-2 run headed by former UAAP MVP Ken Bono for a 33-25 lead at the turn.
The Meteors maintained their lead and even erected an 11-point advantage at the start of the final canto after five straight points from Lyndon Gudez. MisOr’s largest lead of the game was at 12, 53-41, with 7:08 left in the game.
Vic Manuel, Mark Magsumbol and Ariel Capus led a comeback with the latter’s trifecta pulling them within six, 52-58, with 4:17 left. However, a three-pointer by former Mandaue forward JR Gerilla and a hook shot by Bono all but decimated Mandaue’s hopes.
Bono ended up with 14 points and eight rebounds while Daa chipped in 10. Mandaue was led by the 21 of Manuel, the 14 of Capus and the 13 of Mark Magsumbol.
The conference awards was also held yesterday. Glenn Bolocon was named MVP of the conference. Ian Saladaga of the Niños won Best in Steals honors while Harold Sta. Cruz of the Landmasters won the Best in Blocks award. The Coach of the Year went to the Landmasters’ Jun Tan while Magsumbol won the Sportsmanship trophy.