B-Meg Expert Cebu wins Nokia provincial crown

MANILA, Philippines - B-MEG Expert Cebu drew 25 points from Jerald Legarda and Mark Linao to beat Smart-Olongapo, 75-66, and bag the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League provincial crown recently at the San Juan gym.

The Pepito Experts thus completed a four-game sweep in the four-team provincial finals in this tournament backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corp. with recognition from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Olongapo got 10 points each from mythical five members Lomell Loyola and Tristan Perez in the tournament also supported by San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc., Smart Communications and Burlington en route to the win over Smart-Olongapo.

The Cebuanos beat Smart-Cagayan de Oro (96-92); Trace College Laguna (75-51) and Smart Olongapo (90-69) before meeting the latter anew in the finals.

Smart Cagayan de Oro took third place after a 93-84 win fuelled by a combined 50 points from Giovani Jalalon, Reden Celda, Rocky Mejos and Rhonnel Lastimosa, who was named Burlington Most Promising Player.