M. Lhuillier-Cebu Niños beat Smart Gilas Pilipinas in second exhibition game

The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños displayed the poise of a veteran to avenge a frustrating defeat last Thursday with pulsating 79-76 victory over the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas National Men’s Team at the Cebu Coliseum friday night.

The win wrapped up a two-game exhibition series and the Niños will again host two matches against the Talk ‘N Tex Phone Pals on March 8 and 9 at the Cebu Coliseum.

Yesterday, the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala squad stamped its dominance over the youthful Gilas, 2-1 in their head-to-head match-up, though Smart Sports director Patrick Gregorio said Gilas could be back for more matches.

“Definitely we will be back. Gilas will travel to Australia, Serbia and Las Vegas in the coming days. But we will be back,” Gregorio told Sun.Star Cebu.

Despite the defeat, Gilas achieved what they came for--generate support and bring the national team closer to the fans outside of Manila.

“The reason we came here is to bring the team closer to the people in the provinces and you can see how they turned up in this game in terms of support. Tinalikuran nila
yung M. Lhuillier and they rooted for Gilas,” added Gregorio.

The crowd booed the Niños and cheered every Gilas basket and defensive stop.

The Niños were shooting like crazy early as they sank four triples en route to a 22-10 lead after the first quarter.

Gilas was struggling all throughout the first half and allowed the Niños to erect their biggest lead, 46-26, early in the third period.

It was at this situation when the nationals changed gears, holding Cebu to just two points in the next 5:10 to make it within 48-45 with 4:17 to play in the third.

The Niños answered with a short 5-0 blitz but Gilas countered with a 9-0 rally to take the lead for the first time back since 8-7 in the first quarter.

The Niños held their slim lead all throughout the final period, thanks to the all out games of Stephen Padilla, Bruce Dacia and reinforcement Jason Dixon.

Dacia, who scored only four, last Thursday, finished with 19 points, while Padilla had 21 points including five triples.

The Scores:

M.Lhuillier-Cebu (79) - Padilla 21, Dacia 19, Dixon 15, Mepana 8, Santos 4, Saladaga 4, Basco 3, Ababon 2, Enriquez 2

RP Gilas (76) –Baracael 15, Barroca 13, Lassiter 10, Casio 9, Abubou 9, Ballesteros 7, Aguilar 7, Tui 4

Quarters: 22-10, 43-26, 54-54, 79-76

Source: Rommel Manlosa  | StarSun Cebu

Smart Gilas just too good

THE Smart-Gilas Pilipinas team displayed a variety of offensive weapons and showed no mercy to the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños, 83-71, in the first of their two-game exhibition matches at the Cebu Coliseum last night.

The victory evened the head-to-head match-up between the Nationals and the Niños, who hired American Jason Dixon for the exhibition matches, at one game each.

The Niños won their first encounter, 82-76, in February last year and the two will get to settle the score at 5 p.m. still at the Cebu Coliseum.

Gilas’ win also ended the Niños’ string of 26 victories dating back to the Liga Pilipinas regular season.

Coming in full force, Gilas showed the Cebuanos the brand of basketball they will display in the various international competitions, including the Asian Games this November, and they didn’t disappoint.

From the basic half-court execution and outside shooting, to the razzle-dazzle fast break plays, the Gilas brought put the Cebuano fans to the edge of their seats from the start to finish.

Japeth Aguilar provided the highlights of the games with two alley-oop dunks to make sure of another full house game today.

However, the game also had its drama.

With 6:28 left, Gilas coach Rajko Toroman motioned his players to proceed to the dugout after team captain Chris Tiu was called for an offensive foul.

However, he did not carry out the plan and instead pleaded his case to the referees for almost five minutes before deciding to continue with the game.

Following that incident, Aguilar brought the house down with back-to-back alley-hoop dunks that secured the game for the Gilas.

The Niños, however, did not give away the game in a silver platter and even managed to hold on to the lead until the 7:30 mark of the third.

Source: Rommel Manlosa  | StarSun Cebu

Smart Gilas vs. Cebu Niños match moved

The two-day exhibition matches between the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas and the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños is moved to March 5 and 6 still at the Cebu Coliseum.

From the original Feb. 26 and 27 date, the much anticipated game between the country’s representatives to the Asian Games in November, was moved a week later.




Replacement

Toroman and team manager Frankie Lim went in the US in search for a replacement of the problematic Jamal Sampson who was dumped by the SBP heirarchy after a mediocre performance at the Dubai International Basketball tournament late in January.

Toroman has made sure that he can now find a worthy pivot player who can help the Gilas in its campaign in international competition, especially in the country’s bid to earn a ticket to the London Olympics in 2012.

Slaughter

The coming of the Gilas is to give Cebuanos a closer look at the national team, which is composed mostly of collegiate players that include Cebu’s Greg Slaughter who has improved a lot since he decided to leave the University of the Visayas Green Lancers to concentrate on his task in helping the team earn a slot to the London Olympics.

The Niños meanwhile had been boosting its rooster to make it bigger and quicker in its effort to duplicate its 82-76 win over the youthful Gilas in Feb. 28 last year.

SBP is aiming to bring the Gilas to the rest of the country, as part of its effort to bring the team closer to the Filipinos.

Source: Rommel Manlosa  | StarSun Cebu