CEBU CITY — Owing to their amazing run in the elimination round, the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños are the sentimental favorites not only to win the championship but also to complete a sweep of the tournament.

Carrying a perfect 16-0 record in the four legs they participated in, the Niños hope to sustain the momentum when the Super Leg of the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III begins Monday at the Cebu City Coliseum here.
Aiming to regain the title they lost last conference to the Misamis Oriental Meteors, the Niños have almost everything in their favor, including the crowd support and depth.

For winning all four conferences, they compiled 60 tour points.

The Yayoy Alcoseba-mentored Niños boast of PBA and PBL veterans in Bruce Dacia, Stephen Padilla Marlon Basco and Cebu-based players Woodraw Enriquez, Mark Ababon, Ariel Mepana and Ian Saladaga.

Out to challenge the hosts are the defending champion Meteors, who beat Cebu in five full games in the finals of Conference II behind the efforts of eventual Most Valuable Player Mark Yee.

But with Yee already with the PBA's Burger King Whoppers, the team of coach Jun Noel will lean on Patrick Cabahug, Eder Saldua and big man Mark Kong.