Spring Cooking Oil plays Lhuillier in NBL opener

Reigning National and Interclub champion Spring Cooking Oil renews its rivalry with M. Lhuillier in the featured game of the NBL (National Basketball League) Invitational Cup tournament which unwraps today at the Tinga gym in Taguig, Rizal.

The Cooking Oil Masters, coached by Tito Palma and owned by national shooting champion Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla, and the Jewelers of Michel Lhuillier collide at 5 p.m.

Forward Taguig faces RP Burlington at 3:30 while Hartman Seigle battles defending champion Wang’s Ball Club at 6:30 in the other games.

Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga and Basketball Association of the Philippines secretary general Graham Lim will be guests of honor during the 3 p.m. opening ceremony.

The tourney serves as a preview of the NBL First and Second Conference tournaments set early next year, according to Tac Padilla, who is NBL’s vice president for operations.

The six teams will play one round, with the top two disputing the title on Dec. 7.

The Spring-Lhuillier tiff is expected to be close and exciting from the start as the two teams boast some of the country’s leading players, mostly from the defunct MBA.

Spring will be bannered by Rodel Manuel, Mike Buendia, Mar Reyes, Tyrone Bautista, Lito Saygo and Murphy Limbo, while Lhuillier will be led by Bong Marata, Aldrin Ocanada, Jerry Jaca, Eldrich Reyes and Whitey Almonte.

Wang’s is confident of defending its title with the help of Randy Lopez, Batman Garcia, Billy Moody and Pablo Lucas.

Ex-pro stars Samboy Lim, Al Solis, Pido Jarencio and Tino Pinat and upcoming players Manny Mendoza and Mark Seigle will carry the load for Hartman, the reigning Danny Espiritu Cup titlist.