Laguna beefs up lineup vs Tribu Sugbu

MINGLANILLA, Cebu–Spring Cooking Oil-backed Laguna parades new recruits Dondon Villamin and Mel Latoreno when it starts its two-day Visayan swing against defending champion Tribu Sugbu in the 2005 Panasonic-NBC national basketball championship at the Sports Center here.

The Cooking Oil Masters of NBC president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla and Laguna Gov. Teresita "Ningning" Lazaro will try to end the 15-game home winning streak of the Skygo/Sirlitz-backed Cebuanos in the 7 p.m. contest.

Both members of the BAP-RP team, Villamin and Latoreno are expected to give the Cooking Oil Masters a big boost, together with Sonny Manucat, Mar Reyes, Robin Mendoza, Marlon Kalaw, Rodel Manuel and Rodel Mallari.

The Cebuanos of businessmen Lito Gillamac and Mario King pin their hopes on Doroteo Almacin, Ronald Bucao, Alex Cainglet, Lowell Briones, Neil Raneses, Marvin Mercado, Alex Mangubat and Bernie Ursal.

"We hope to stop their streak. Our defense will be the key," said Laguna coach Vic Sanchez.

Tribu mentor Al Solis predicts a tough fight. "We went toe to toe with them last year. This (game) should be another close fight."

Tribu is running second to Ozamiz Cotta (7-2) in the Southern Conference at 6-2, followed by Iligan and Valencia at 3-4 each, CdO Stars (1-3), Iloilo (1-6) and Zanorte Hornbills (0-7).

Laguna is third in the Northern Conference at 3-2, behind Forward Taguig (6-0) and Cavite (6-5) but ahead of Parañaque (33) and Baguio (1-4).

The tourney is supported by Panasonic, Sulpicio Lines, Spring Cooking Oil, Accel, Molten, Nature’s Spring, Far Eastern Insurance, Skygo Motorcycles, Sirlitz Solutions Provider, Hapee Toothpaste, Dewfoam, KSK Food Products (Boy Bawang), Bayview Park Hotel and Holiday Plaza-Cebu.