The Cebu Gems also known as Cebuana Lhuillier Gems were a professional basketball team in the now-defunct

Metropolitan Basketball Association The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), or Metroball, was a Professional sports, professional basketball league in the Philippines that ran from March 7, 1998, to July 26, 2002. History The MBA played its first game on March 7, 1998, at t ...

from 1998 to 2002. The team was owned by Jean Henri Lhuillier. The team played its home games at the

Cebu Coliseum The Cebu Coliseum is an indoor arena in Cebu City, Philippines. Its seating capacity is around 5,000. The coliseum hosts various sports events and concerts in Cebu and is the primary venue for CESAFI games. It was also the home of the Cebu Gems ...

History

Cebu Gems (MBA seasons, 1998-2000)

The team owner was Jean Henri Lhuillier. The Gems had former national player Leoncio Tan, Jr as their first coach, he was replaced by former PBA player Tonichi Yturri during the inaugural season of the

in 1998. Yturri would remain coach of the Cebu Gems until the final MBA season in 2002. Among the players who played for the Gems in their first season were Michael Manigo, a 5-7 guard out of Cebu Doctors College,

Dondon Hontiveros Donaldo "Dondon" Cabañes Hontiveros (born June 1, 1977) is a Filipino politician and former professional basketball player. He is a member of the Cebu City Council since June 30, 2022 and previously from 2019 to 2021. He was the Vice Mayor of ...

, who won the MBA Discovery of the year award. Fil-Am Rob Wainwright, Rob Duat, Chris Tan, Chris Mendoza, Jan Montalbo Stephen Padilla and ex-pro Rudy Enterina. Their home games were held at the well-known Cebu Coliseum. The Gems were able to take the Negros Slashers to a seventh game in the Southern Conference finals before finally losing. The following year in 1999, the Gems added the likes of Homer Se and Edwin Manabat to the lineup. They lost to Iloilo Megavoltz for the Visayas division title. But with the acquisition of Fil-Americans Matt Mitchell and Kenny Evans, the Gems made it to the national finals later that year against the Manila Metrostars. Cebu lost in six games to Manila in the best-of-seven series for the MBA national championship. In 2000, the Gems finished on top of the Southern Conference with 10 wins and two losses. They lost to Negros Slashers, three games to one, in the best-of-five finals for the Southern Conference title.

Cebuana Lhuillier (2001-2002 MBA seasons)

The team was now known as Cebuana Lhuillier Gems. In the first phase of the 2001 MBA season, the Gems finished the eliminations with 10 wins and four losses and are tied in the same standing with Andok's-San Juan Knights and Negros Slashers. They lost to Negros via two-game sweep in the best-of-three semifinal series. They lost again to Negros, this time in five games for the Southern Conference title in the MBA second phase tournament that season.

Home Arenas

(1998-2002)

1999 Roster

Other notable players

*Rob Duat *Chris Mendoza *Rudy Enterina *Matt Mitchell *Kenny Evans *Chris de Jesus *Roy Lura * Marc Pingris

References

{{reflist Metropolitan Basketball Association teams Basketball teams established in 1998 Basketball teams disestablished in 2002 Sports in Cebu 1998 establishments in the Philippines 2002 disestablishments in the Philippines