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 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 the Don Narciso Ramos ...

from 1998 to 2002. The team was owned by

Jean Henri Lhuillier Jean Henri Diago Lhuillier (, born March 24, 1969) is a Filipino businessman, diplomat and sports patron. He is the President and CEO of the PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies, which operates and manages Cebuana Lhuillier, the largest micro financi ...

. 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 of ...

History

Cebu Gems (MBA seasons, 1998-2000)

The team owner was

. 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 Ce ...

, 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 The Negros Slashers also known as the RCPI-Negros Slashers were a professional basketball team in the Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998 to 2002. The team enjoyed considerable success, winning the MBA National Championship in 2002, the ...

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 The Manila Metrostars were a professional basketball team in the now-defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association from 1998 to 2001. The team was the 1999 MBA National Champions and holds the MBA record of winning 22 consecutive games during the sa ...

. 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

, 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

. 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 Jean Marc Prado Pingris Jr. (born October 16, 1981) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. Known as one of the best defenders and rebounders in PBA history, he was named one of the league's 40 Greatest Players. He spent 14 season ...

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