3 games usher in NBL regional tiff

OZAMIZ CITY – Three games will kick off the Vis-Min leg of the National Basketball League’s first regional championship today at the Gov. Angel Medina gymnasium here.

Luzon leg titlist Shineway Ham Sausage of Ozamiz pursues its bid for a sweep and an outright finals seat in the regional competition when it takes on Pampanga’s University of Assumption at 7 p.m.

The other games in the tourney sponsored by Oishi, Unimex, Shineway Ham Sausage and Molten (official ball) pit Cebu’s M. Lhuillier-Kwarta Padala against Forward Taguig at 4 p.m. and Malabon’s Spring Cooking Oil against Mandaluyong’s Wang’s Ball Club at 5:30.

The win-loss records of the six teams — 4-1 for Ozamiz and Taguig, 3-2 for Lhuillier, 2-3 for Spring and UA and 0-5 for Wang’s — will be carried over to determine the two semifinalists and four quarterfinalists.

The semifinalists will earn twice-to-beat advantage while the next four will clash in knockout matches to fill the two other semi slots. In case Shineway tops the elims, it automatically makes it to the finals.

The teams have beefed up their lineups, pointing to a more exciting competition in the event leading to the NBL national championship starting on April 26.

NBL vice president Tac Padilla’s Spring Cooking Oil has added Rolly Menor, Glenn Peter Yap and Edwin Pimentel, Taguig has recruited 6-foot-5 Leo Villar and Aya Guru and Lhuillier has reactivated Jessie Lumantas, Aldrich Reyes and Bong Marata.

All national championship games will be televised every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Bacolod City, Pampanga and Tarlac have joined the national competition, where the regular NBL teams—Shineway, Taguig, Lhuillier, Spring and UA—are also expected to bolster their respective rosters with more experienced players.