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The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños completed a sweep of all their elimination round games after they dealt the reigning national champions Misamis Oriental Meteors another loss, 91-81, in the title game of the Zamboanga leg of the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 late Saturday night at the Summit Centre in Zamboanga City.
The win gave the Niños their fourth title in the conference and more importantly, notched a total of 60 points after winning all their 16 games in the elimination round.
They will be the top seed in the upcoming Super Leg round, which will determine the champion in this conference.
Power forward Ariel Mepana picked the perfect time to find his game as he tallied 19 points off the bench after averaging just four points per outing in the previous three games.
Eder Saldua fired 28 points for the Meteors but designated shooter Patrick Cabahug was limited to only 13 points after averaging 23.3 points in their first three outings.
The Meteors got five points for their runner-up finish for a total of 33 points, good for third place, just a shave ahead of fourth placer Forward Taguig. The Quezon Red Oilers currently occupy second place with 35 points as they await the results of the final leg this week in Apayao.
The third to fifth placers will be paired with the sixth to eight in three separate series with the higher-ranked team enjoying the twice-to-beat and home court advantage. The three series winners advance to the Super Leg with the two outright qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the EKB-Apayao Rapids of Gov. Elias K. Bulut went home with third place after repeating over the host Zamboanga Uno Latinos, 105-84.
The Rapids thus registered back-to-back wins and gives them good momentum as they prepare to host the final leg starting this Wednesday when they welcome the Trace-Laguna Stallions, Smart-Pampanga Buddies and Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue.
BOX SCORE
CEBU (91) – Mepana 19, Magsumbol 16, Padilla 14, Enriquez 10, Saladaga 10, Basco 9, Santos 6, Poligrates 3, Nailon 2, Dacia 2, Ababon 0.
MISAMIS ORIENTAL (81) – Saldua 28, Cabahug 13, Misa 13, Daja 9, Lamocha 6, Mamaclay 5, Barcellano 3, Butel 2, Sanchez 2, Clavel 0, Moreno 0, Guiyab 0.
