Santos Petroleum five leads NBTC regional winners

Santos Petroleum ruled the Western Visayas division while Daisy Condensada-SHSJ and Misamis Oriental Meteors copped the Cebu and Cagayan de Oro/Iligan first conference titles, respectively, in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League presented by Nokia at separate venues recently.

Santos Petroleum relied on the all-around game of Orly Pelopero to post a 104-60 victory over Dumaguete Suy.

Pelopero, who scored 23 points, was adjudged Most Valuable Player in the tournament under the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) headed by Manny V. Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala and supported by Nike and Molten.

In the battle for third place, 888 Chinatown Square won over IEC Computers, 89-86, as Mitzi Banhao led his team with 21 pts with Luis Genobata and Billy Pelagio pitching in 15 and 14, respectively.

In Cebu, Daisy Condensada-SHSJ edged Lhuillier South UV, 50-49, as Gabe Branzuela was adjudged as Most Valuable Player. BMEG expert-USC routed Penshoppe-Don Bosco, 84-64, for third place.

At the Cagayan de Oro/Iligan front, Misamis Oriental Meteors rapped CDO Oro Grande, 85-79, as Elmer Labistop was named Most Valuable Player. Iligan Black Vipers nipped Iligan Firefly, 80-78, for third place.

In Davao, Energen now totes a 2-0 mark following a 112-72 win over St. Elizabeth Saints. Kenneth Flaviano, Larry John Malanday and Ryan Serafin had 22, 16 and 12, respectively, while Marvin Jay Ronquillo topscored with 14 for the Saints (0-2).

Megavia-Southmin tied Montana Pawnshop at 1-1 following an 86-80 win over the latter. Reden Celda and Jess Linus Evagelio had 18 and 12 points, respectively, for Megavia while Ronald Bangoy topscored for Montana with 24 points.

The Nokia NBTC D-League is a grassroots program meant to feed fundamentally sound players to future national teams aside from leagues like the UAAP, NCAA, PBL, PBA and the Liga Pilipinas.

Players from the league will also be culled to form a team that will compete in the 16 and under FIBA-Asia tournament.