It will be reigning Interclub champion Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan against Cebus M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala at 5 p.m. and Compak Shineway-Ozamiz against Air Philippines-Bacolod Flights at 7 oclock in the initial doubleheader of the tourney sponsored by Fortune Tobacco, Air Philippines, Gatorade and Molten Basketballs.
The other teams in the tourney called by the organizers as "Ang Ligang Pinoy" are the Pampanga Dragons, Tarlac Stallions, Negros Oriental and Forward Taguig.
"The NBL is here to push the development and promotion of basketball in the regional level," said NBL vice president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla yesterday when he guested at the PSA Forum together with secretary general Tito Palma, Bacolods Butch Disini and Louie Kierulf, whose outfit Silverstar Communications will televise the games over Channel 13.
Kenny Evans, one of the top Talk N Text point guards in last years PBA, will spark the bid of coach Bobby Parks Spring Cooking Oil Masters.
Other well-known former MBA stars and ex-collegians like Ozamizs Egay Echavez and Steve Marucot, Pampangas Dave Bautista and Billy Bansil, Springs Tyrone Bautista and Jay Lapinid, Taguigs Kim Macanig and Robin Mendoza and Tarlacs Joseph Gumatay and Francis Sanz will see action.