Batangas, Naga share NBTC lead

MANILA, Philippines - Batang BBL-UB of Batangas and ABC Ideas of Naga tied Energen-Pampanga for the Luzon leadership with their second straight victories recently in the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League in several venues.

Joseph Elnar fired 14 points while John Arellano and Joseph Sangalang had 12 and 10 points, respectively, as Batang BBL-UB beat Ulam King STC (0-2) for its first win in the under-18 tournament backed by Nokia and TAO Corp.

The Batang BBL-UB later beat Smart-La Salle, 67-58, as Arellano tallied 12 points while Charles Valenzuela and Elnar had 10 apiece in the tournament supported by San Miguel, Purefoods Co., Smart Communications and Burlington.

B-MEG SBC notched its first win also at the expense of Ulam King-STC, 74-71, in Batangas City with KR Panganiban and David Panganiban leading the charge with 21 and 10 points, respectively.

 Meanwhile, ABC Ideas booked its second win by beating North Star (0-1), 62-58, at the Ateneo de Naga gym. Bicol-based St. Joseph routed Little Adamsia, 73-39, in the other game.