By Charlyn Amor L. Racho
MUST Intern
WITH the core of Xavier University's junior varsity squad at the helm, the Oro Grande fashioned out a lopsided 91-70 victory over BMEG-Pilgrim on Sunday's opening of the NBTC-D League here at XU gymnasium.
Smart-Sacred Heart also drew first blood, edging reigning champion Nutri-C Corpus, 81-78 in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Developmental League for Northern Mindanao area.
With veteran bench tactician Manny Diaz calling the shots for Oro Grande, the foursome of Marlou Mabanta, Vovan Palomar, Mark Hans Sabal and Jeff Flores responded well combining for 44 points in making life miserable for the Wewe Daba-mentored BMEG-Pilgrim.
Last year's best coach awardee Richard Tangara saw his Corpus Knights 1-2 punch in Ranz Ostrea and Bonn Ugay complementing with Capitol University reinforcement Karl Daigdigan who top-scored Nutri C with 15 markers. But the breaks of the game simply went on Smart way as coach Boy Dacoco's reliable tandem of Jiovanni Jalalon and JK Casi¤o delivered 18 and 13 points each to set the tone for Sacred Heart's triumphant debut.
Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno graced Sunday's opening of the NBTC-D League, serving as grassroots league of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for players aged 14-16.
Arvin R. Martinez, NBTC head for Mindanao area, said the league is envisioned to be a feeder program for the UAAP, NCAA, professional leagues and future national teams on top of developing skills and building characters among aspiring young and promising dribblers in the locality.
The scores:
Oro Grande XU 91--Mabanta 12, Palomar 11, Sabal 11, Flores 10, Quirit 9, Labitad 6, Malagar 6, Sol 5, Gamos 4, Galeon 3, Daytia 3, Abao 3, Pagalan 3, Lagbas 3, Malferrari 2.
BMEG-Pilgrim 70--Nagac 22, Aquino 13, Acaylar 8, Lozada 6, Intong 4, Ocangas 3, Fuentes 2, Beja 2, Mijares 2, Dablio 2, Jabines 2, Galan 2, Palomar 2, Cepeda 0, Comendador 0.
2nd game
Smart-Sacred Heart 81--Jalalon 18, Casi¤o 13, Paza 7, Omila 6, Akut 6, Lastimosa 6, Lerio 5, Sabacdalao 4, Bonsubre 4, Cox 3, Macapayag 3, Jabagat 2, Omila 2, Neri 2, Bucag 0.
Nutri-C Corpus Christi 78--Daigdigan 15, Ostrea 14, Ugay 12, Laurito 6, Obedencio 6, Subsuban 6, Villanueva 5, Sultan 4, Villanueva 3, Joso 2, Susas 2, Salceda 2, Racho 1, Baluran 0, Umpar 0.