Games today (Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm – Pharex vs Toyota/5th Avenue (battle for third)

6 pm – ML Kwarta Padala vs Toyota/5th Avenue (championship)

The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu Jewelers claimed the first championship slot in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Sinulog Cup after crushing the Pharex Medics, 108-94, in the semifinals yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Jewelers banked on the veteran savvy of high-flying wingman Bruce Dacia to erect a comfortable lead and then turned to the backcourt antics of Woodrow Enriquez to frustrate the comeback attempt of the Medics, in the penultimate period of yesterday's knockout game.

Dacia combined with reigning Cesafi MVP, Enrico Llanto and former PBA cagers Dale Singson and Marlon Basco for a blistering 19-6 run for a 19-point lead, 89-70, midway through the fourth canto.

However, the Medics rebounded and rode the hot three-point shooting of Emerson Oreta, to slice the lead down to just seven, after the latter's third straight trifecta, 93-86.

But the hardened Jewelers refused to blink, and turned to lefty guard Enriquez, who responded with five points to put the lead back up to double digits, 102-90, giving the Jewlers the first finals slot.

The Jewekers will face the winner of the other semifinal game pitting the Toyota Roadkings against the 5th Avenue Telecom which was still being played as of presstime.

Dacia led the Jewelers with 20 points, Jayford Rodriguez had 16 points, Basco added 15 while Enriquez finished with 14 markers. Oreta topscored for the Medics with 16 points.