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ML gains 2-0 lead By Iste Sesante Leopoldo Cebu Daily News Posted date: September 04, 2008 The M. Lhuillier Ninos survived a tough Lipa-Batangas Barakos last night, 83-72 in Game 2 of their best-of-five semifinal series of the 2008 Smart Liga ng Pilipinas at the Cebu Coliseum. The close victory gave the Niños a huge 2-0 lead and a sweep of their home assignments. They need just one more win to sweep the Barakos and book a finals slot. The match was close from the opening tip-off as M. Lhuillier led by only one point, 57-56 at the end of the third quarter. The Barakos grabbed the lead early in the final quarter but the gritty Cebuanos tied the count at 72-all on Mark Ababon’s lay-up. With less than two minutes remaining, Ababon sparked an M. Lhuillier break-away with his three pointer followed by Marlon Basco and Saladaga’s baskets for a back-breaking, 16-0 run that all but settled the outcome of the game. Liga ng Pilipinas President and CEO Noli Eala commended the former Adidas 3-on-3 hotshots Mark Ababon who chipped in nine points and Jayford Rodriguez who led the Niños with 15 markers. “Rodriguez and Ababon played very well tonight and the M. Lhullier Ninos defended their homecourt very well,” Eala said. However, Eala believes the Niños will have a harder time against the Barakos when the series shifts to Batangas for Game 3, stating that the home crowd play a very vital role in a tough series. M.Lhuillier will face the Barakos at the Lipa Cultural Center on Sept. 7, 2008. BOX SCORES: MHULLIER 83: Rodriguez 15, Basco 12, Padilla 11, Dacia 10, Ababon 9, Saladaga 6, Tangkay 5, Aying 5, Enriquez 4, Bucao 4, Capati 1, Berame 1 LIPA-BATANGAS 72: Sanders 17, Lim 12, Custodio 11, Vergara 11, Estrada 7, Moody 6, Neo 5, Junio 2, Alfad 1.