Megavia, Misamis Oriental make Mindanao Nokia finals

MANILA, Philippines - Megavia and Misamis Oriental claimed their respective area titles in the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League at separate venues recently in Mindanao.

Kinsman Redeemer Frando scored his team’s last eight points in the last 55 seconds, including two three pointers and the winning basket at the buzzer as Megavia edged Energen, 92-90, in the Davao eliminations.

Megavia, which bungled leads as many as 16 points, drew a team-high 18 points from Frando while Larry John Malanday topscored for the losers with 22 points. Deonne King Ladao, Benjamin Zosa and Paolo Dailisan backstopped Frando with a combined 33 points.

Both teams made it into the Mindanao regional finals set March 27-29 of the 16-and-under tournament under the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

They will be up against the Misamis Oriental Meteors, which bested Oro Grande, 76-69, in their area finals matchup at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro City. Oro Grande completed the four-team cast.

Paolo Beja and Rosendo Aquino combined for 21 points for the victors while Edgardo Quirit led Oro Grande with 17 points followed by 10 apiece from Xaviery Galeon and Noel Yaranon.

Aquino, named Most Outstanding Player, was also named to the mythical five along with Cyril Abano, Mark Hans Sabal, Mat Georgio Armani Mara-Mara and Elmer Labis Jr. Misamis Oriental coach Richard Tangara was named Best Coach.

The Nokia NBTC D-League is a program meant to develop fundamentally sound players in preparation for them to be members of future national teams aside from leagues like the UAAP, NCAA, PBL, PBA and the Liga Pilipinas.