B-MEG Cebu wins Visayas D-League crown

MANILA, Philippines - B-MEG Experts Cebu became the third team to enter the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League provincial finals after topping the Visayas regionals at the Lamberto Macias Sports Center in Dumaguete City recently.

B-MEG defeated Smart Iloilo, 74-70, to complete a four-game sweep and join early qualifiers Smart Laguna and Smart Olongapo in the provincial finals set May 28-30 in the tournament backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corp. with the recognition of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Vincent Mendoza and Alvin Aguirre had 13 points apiece while Jerald Aguirre added 10. Hero Tomilloso topscored for Smart Iloilo with 10 points in the event backed by San Miguel Purefoods Co., Smart Communications and Burlington.

B-MEG Derby Ace Bacolod settled for third with an 82-66 win over Safeguard Dumaguete. Kit Saga, Mitzi Banhao and Kevin Villafrancia scored 12 each for Ace Bacolod. Other participants were Leyte Agri Ormoc and B-MEG Prized Catch Bohol.

Named Most Outstanding Player was Cebu’s Edcor Marata while John Clyde Pitao of Bohol was adjudged Burlington Most Promising Player. Arnel Belmoro of Ormoc bagged the Sportsmanship award.Making it to the mythical team were Francis Donahue of Iloilo, Steve Bieron of Dumaguete, Janus Calma of Bacolod, Steven Ong of Iloilo and Gerald Legarde of Cebu.

Gracing the event were Joel Lopa, head of Nokia Pilipinas Youth Basketball Program; Ito Lopa, operation manager of the Nokia Pilipinas Youth Basketball Program; Rommel Rasmo, NBTC Visayas commissioner; Peter Naron, NBTC Bohol commissioner; Glynda Descuatan, co-chairman, Negros Oriental Sports and Cultural Facilities Board of Management; Tony Boy Espinosa, NBTC Iloilo commissioner; Joe Guirit, NBTC Dumaguete commissioner; Manny Nitorreda, NBTC tournament director and Eric Altamirano, NBTC program director.