Games this Sunday
(New Cebu City Coliseum)
5 p.m. – MisOr/Quezon vs Laguna (3rd)
7 p.m. – Cebu vs MisOr/Quezon (Finals)

CEBU CITY — The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu Niños went to their “Big D” in the second half to score an 80-62 win over the Smart Pampanga Buddies and keep their unblemished record in the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Super Leg Friday at the Cebu City Coliseum here.

Trailing by 10 points at the start of the third quarter, Cebu tightened up their defensive screws that paved the way for a murderous 16-to-nothing run that all but took the fight out of the Buddies.

PBA veteran Stephen Padilla starred in the Ninos’ 20th consecutive win as he tallied 11 of his 13 points in the second half despite a 5-of-14 shooting. He also had four rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Ian Saladaga and Marlon Basco each had 11 points to give Padilla the much-needed support.

Cebu can regain its crown with a win over either defending champion Misamis Oriental or Quezon. The Meteors and Red Oilers are still playing as of presstime.

The Red Oilers lost to Trace Laguna Stallions, 72-65, but still secured the right to meet the Meteors in the face-off for the second finals berth by virtue of their higher quotient. The Stallions to win by 9 points in order to grab the last semis berth.

Laguna, which finished the round tied with Quezon and Pampanga at 1-3, will meet the loser of the Meteors-Red Oilers tussle for third place in the conference supported by Smart, Accel, Nolten, Burlington, Biofresh, Calcium Free, Gatorade, San Miguel Beer, Air21, Casino Alcohol, Omega Pain Killer, and M Lhuillier Kwarta Padala.

The scores:
First Game
LAGUNA 72 - Losentes 21, Villaver 15, Angeles 12, Mangahas 9, Capati 6, Estrada 4, Legaspi 3, Sanz 2, Grijaldo 0, Musni 0, Pradas 0, Tolentino 0.
QUEZON 65 - Raymundo 17, Labagala 12, Palaganas 10, Canizares 9, Mondragon 6, Pinera 4, Orias 3, Dedicatoria 2, Cacha 2.
Quarters: 19-16; 29-34; 51-50; 72-65.

Second Game:
CEBU 80 - Padilla 13, Saladaga 11, Basco 11, Mepana 9, Magsumbol 8, Poligrates 8, Santos 6, Nailon 6, Enriquez 5, Ababon 3.
PAMPANGA 62 - Husted 12, Aldave 9, Espiritu An. 8, Thiele 7, Asoro 7, Gelig 5, Espiritu Al. 4, Daroya 4, Magpayo 2, Villamin 2, Taylor 2, Tan 0, Nicdao 0.
Quarters: 14-21; 31-39; 56-44; 80-62.