M. Lhuillier stays clean in MVBA: Drubs WNC Mustangs to go 5-0

The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu City Jewelers dug deep at crunchtime to repulse the gritty Talisay City-West Negros College Mustangs, 95-81, and keep their unbeaten record intact in the ML Kwarta Padala Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) First Conference on Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Jewelers of businessman-sportsman Michel Lhuillier and head coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba struggled most of the way but breathe fire towards the end, holding off the visiting Mustangs to only four points in the final seven-minute mark of the game to firm up their hold of the lead with a clean 5-0 slate.

Unlike in their previous loss to the MLSDF-Mantawi Traders, the visiting Mustangs were in fighting mood this time as they bravely overhauled an 11-point deficit late in the first canto and even led on several occasions including at 48-47 at halftime.

West Negros had its last taste of the lead at 73-72 with 1:20 left in the third period as Alano Caputolan hit two free throws and then Niño Ramirez scored on an acrobatic layup to give the Jewelers a 76-73 edge entering the final period.

The Mustangs last threatened at 77-80 as Jayford Rodriguez, Woodrow Enriquez and Stephen Padilla presided over a decising game-closing 15-4 assault to wrap up M. Lhuillier's 14-point romp.

Rodriguez topped with 18 points even as four other players cashed in double figures as the Jewelers stayed as the only undefeated team in the league backed by ML Kwarta Padala, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Molten, Nature's Spring Drinking Water, Panasonic, and Sulpicio Lines.

Enriquez tossed in all his 15 points in the second half, Padilla added 14 points spiked with four triples, while the power-playing Enrico Llanto and Danny Aying each contributed 10 markers.

The sweet-shooting Ely Orate matched his league-record output of 33 points, while Benjie Vergara and Stanley Tizon connived for 29 markers, but their efforts went up in smoke as West Negros dropped its second straight game.

Over at the MSU-IIT Gym, host Iligan City scattered 14 unanswered points to begin the fourth period on the way to knocking down PacMan-GenSan, 88-79, and clinch the top spot in the Mindanao Division.

Holding a shaky 65-61 lead after three quarters, Marvin Tundag and team captain Lester Cosingan combined for 10 of Iligan's14 markers in the crucial salvo that gave the wards of Mayor Lawrence Cruz the biggest margin of the game, 79-61.

Center Erickson Araman scored 10 of his 20 points in the first period to lead five teammates in twin digits. Alex Bognot followed with 17, Tundag with 12 and Cosingan and Ed Pening with 11 each.

Jaypee Locsin paced PacMan with 15 while Louie Medalla added 13 and Noel Sandoval 13.

The scores

First game

M. Lhuillier-Cebu (95) - Rodriguez 18, Enriquez 15, Padilla 14, Aying 10, Llanto 10, Ramirez 6, Caputolan 6, Manigo 4, Tangarorang 4, Mepana 4, Ocanada 4

West Negros (81) - Olarte 33, Vergara 17, Tizon 12, Espiritu 6, Suante 5, Deocadis 4, Dapar 2, Quilantang 2

Quarterscores: 21-15, 47-48, 76-73, 95-81