Samboy leads NBL selection in Qatar tourney

Former PBA superstar Avelino "Samboy" Lim, seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks and ex-MBA standout Jeffrey Flowers will banner a strong National Basketball League (NBL) selection that will carry the Philippine colors in the Qatar Invitational Tournament on July 30-Aug. 6 in Doha.

To be called the Team Philippines Spring Lhuillier, the squad will also be composed of Spring Cooking Oil’s Mario Reyes, Rodel Manuel, Bernard Tanpua and Rolly Menor and M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala’s Aldrich Reyes, Arnold Rodriguez, Reuben dela Rosa, Aldrin Ocanada and Darryl Smith.

Raul "Yayoy’ Alcoseba, who piloted Lhuillier to a frontrunning 11-1 card in the NBL elimination round, will handle the team. He will be assisted by Ricky Magallanes of Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan and Ramon Alcoseba, athletic trainer and liaison officer.

NBL secretary general Tito Palma will be the delegation head and team manager. Palma thanked team owners Michel Lhuillier and Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla "for giving their support to the team."

"We have accepted the invitation to play (in Qatar) because we (NBL) are committed to serve the national interest.

The RP team is expected to encounter tough opposition from the national teams of Jordan, Iran and Qatar.

The NBL is also set to compete in the fifth SEABA Invitational Championship to be hosted by Cebu City from Aug. 18-23. The NBL All-Stars will be a guest entry.

The other entries, which are vying for a seat in the 22nd ABC men’s tourney set Sept. 23-Oct. 3 in Harbin, China, are Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, NBL’s final elimination match will be played tomorrow with the Pampanga Bulls meeting Spring Cooking Oil at 4 p.m.