Ex-PBA stars lift Lhuillier-Padala past Spring Oil

Fancied M. Lhuillier-Kwarta Padala of Cebu banked on four ex-PBA stars to beat Interclub champion Spring Cooking Oil of Malabon, 63-53, at Friday’s opening of the Luzon leg of the NBL (National Basketball League) regional championship at the Tinga gym in Taguig.

Mike Orquillas and Nonoy Falcasantos knocked in 16 and 11 points, respectively, while Bonel Balingit and Zaldy Realubit had eight and seven as the Jewellers took control as early as halftime, 29-19.

In other games, Pampanga’s University of Assumption toppled Mandaluyong’s Wang’s Ball Club, 88-80, and host Forward Taguig came from behind to nip Ozamiz City’s Shineway, 74-73.

Action in the tourney sponsored by Adidas, Burlington, Oishi, Shineway Ham Sausage and Mei Mei Bihon resumes tomorrow at the UA gym in San Fernando, Pampanga with a triplebill. It will be Wang against Forward Taguig at 2 p.m., Ozamiz-Shineway against Spring at 3:30 and Pampanga-UA against Lhuillier-Kwarta Padala at 5.