For topping the gruelling 9-leg series, M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu gets the luxury of facing No. 8 qualifier MP Gensan of Manny Pacquiao when the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) stages its quarterfinal round this week.

The Niños, led by ex-pros Stephen Padilla, Marlon Basco and Warren Ybanez, finished the elims with 49 points after capturing three legs and finishing runner-up one.

But it won’t be easy when they clash at the Cebu City Coliseum.

That's because Gensan earned the distinction as the first team to snap Cebu’s 30-game winning run. Cebu's chief rival Misamis Oriental gained the No. 2 spot with 39 points and will play No. 7 Ani-FCA, which finished with 16 points after placing third in the recently-concluded Taguig leg, likely to be held at Xavier gym in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Meteors won the Mandaue City leg behind former UAAP star Patrick Cabahug, Neil Raneses and center Mac Andaya but suffered three runner-up finishes while the Cultivators played solidly after snapping a 12-game losing streak that started in their maiden campaign in the previous Philippine Basketball League conference.

For winning the leg it hosted, Hobe Bihon-Taguig gained the No. 3 spot after collecting 29 points to earn a date with No. 6 Ascof Lagundi at the Cong. Jun Duenas gym in Signal Village, Taguig City.

The Taguig cagers won the final leg as wily guard Lou Gatumbato, Ariel de Castro and recently acquired guard Christian Coronel led the team in beating Treston Laguna in the finals, 96-74, while the Cough Busters had three runner-up finishes.

Despite the sorry loss, Laguna still gained the No. 4 position and will take on No. 5 Cobra Energy Drink at the Trace College gym in Los Banos. The Stallions, led by Ricky Ricafuente, got 28 points while the Ironmen, who won two legs behind Pari Llagas and Elmer Espiritu, received 27 points highlighted by title victories over Cebu and MisOr.

The top four teams will host all games in the quarters provided that the lower-ranked teams were able to force a rubber match. The semifinals will be a best-of-three series with the winners advancing to a best-of-five championship round.