Oilers eye Super Leg berth vs Warriors

MANILA, Philippines - The Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III braces for its its Super Leg Playoffs today with the Quezon Red Oilers hosting the MP Warriors of GenSan at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.

Gametime is at 4 p.m. with the Red Oilers, enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage, seeking a victory and a spot in the five-team Super Leg slated Nov. 22-29 in Cebu City, that will determine the next national champion.

A victory by the MP Warriors, however, will set the winner-take-all match tomorrow, also at the Quezon Convention Center.

Though they are slightly favored to win, the Red Oilers have lost two of their three head-to-head games with the Warriors in the conference backed by Smart, Molten, Accel, Calcium-Cee, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

The Warriors whipped the Red Oilers twice, 81-65, in the preliminaries and 82-76 in the third place game of the Cebu City leg. But the hosts exacted revenge by beating the Warriors, 78-74, in the preliminaries of the General Santos leg.

Overall, the Red Oilers finished with a 9-7 win-loss card and two leg championships in General Santos and Mandaue, the only other team aside from the undefeated M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños to win multiple legs this conference. 

After beating the Red Oilers twice on opening week, the Warriors struggled for a 3-13 record and finished third in Cebu City and last in the three other legs.

Quezon will be led by Angelus Raymundo and Luis Palaganas, the MVP’s of the General Santos and Mandaue legs with Jorel Canizares and Roberts Labagala providing support. 

Dondon Mendoza, on the other hand, will spearhead the MP Warriors along with Bob Cozy Ilanga and Jethrone Recustodio.

The entire Liga Pilipinas Playoffs will be televised next week on Solar Sports. Liga Pilipinas Classics are shown daily on Viva Prime Channel. For details, log on to www.ligapilipinas.net.