CEBU CITY — The Quezon Red Oilers bounced back from a stinging loss to the title favorites M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu Niños by downing Smart Pampanga Buddies, 64-52, in the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Super Leg last Tuesday at the New Cebu City Coliseum here.
The Red Oilers got much-needed lift from former Letran standouts Jonathan Piñera and Hafer Mondragon and ex-University of the East point guard Rob Labagala to enter the win column following a 75-61 loss to Niños the other day.
The 6-foot-5 Pinera topscored for Quezon with 13 points, Labagala added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes of action while Mondragon registered a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Al Magpayo was the lone double-digit scorer for the Buddies with 18 points and eight rebounds.
It was the second straight defeat for the Buddies in the five-team semis following a 70-62 setback at the hands of the defending champion Misamis Oriental Meteors also on Monday.
With the win, Quezon revived its bid for an outright finals berth in the week-long tournament sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and sponsored by Smart, Accel, Nolten, Burlington, Biofresh, Calcium Free, Gatorade, San Miguel Beer, Air21, Casino Alcohol, Omega Pain Killer, M-Lhuillier Kwarta Padala, and host Cebu councilor Yayoy Alcoseba.
Meanwhile, the Niños seek their second straight win and 17th consecutive overall when they battle the Trace Laguna Stallions in the curtain raiser at 5 p.m. while MisOr and Quezon clash in the second game at 7 p.m.
The Super Leg calls for a single round elimination format with the top team gaining an outright slot in the knockout title match with the second and third placers meeting for the other finals slot.
In beating the Red Oilers, the Niños leaned on the heroics of Bruce Dacia, Ariel Mepana, Marlon Basco and Woodraw Enriquez to keep its winning streak going in the tournament.
Dacia led the home side with 14 points, Mepana had 11 points in just 13 minutes of action with Basco adding 10 points and seven boards. Enriquez had an all-around effort with nine points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. (Manila Bulletin)
Cebu City is located on the central eastern part of Cebu Province, an island at the center of the Visayas in Southern Philippines.
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