Updated 06:44am (Mla time) Sept 03, 2004
Inquirer News Service


Published on page A27 of the September 3, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines -- The Laguna Spring pulled away in the second half to rout the Cagayan de Oro Stars, 92-73, Wednesday and boost its southern campaign in the NBC (National Basketball Conference) national championship.


Former NCAA most valuable player Ernani Epondulan shot 10 of his 16 points for the Spring Cooking Oil-backed team in the third quarter to spark the breakaway of Laguna, co-owned by NBC president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla and Gov. Teresita "Ningning" Lazaro, before a sellout crowd at the Xavier University gym.


The 6-foot-2 Epondulan opened the quarter with a jumper and then scored back-to-back triples at the 5:16 mark as Spring pulled away from 38-34 to 54-43.


Laguna bounced back from Monday's double overtime 80-82 defeat to Tribu Sugbu for a 6-4 card and solo leadership in the North division of the tournament sponsored by Panasonic, Spring Cooking Oil, PCSO, Sulpicio Lines, Nature's Spring Mineral Water, Cebu Ferries, Air Philippines, Supercat, Skygo Motorcycles, Trans-Asia, Accel and Molten.


The Stars absorbed their seventh loss in eight games.


Robin Mendoza's all-around game enabled Spring to lead from start to finish.


The scores:


LAGUNA 92-Epondulan 16, Corbin 11, Nicdao 11, Reyes 11, Capobres 10, Mendoza 9, Manuel 8, Garcia 5, Roda 4, Lingal 4, Kalaw 2, Buendia 0


CdO 73-Navales 16, Numeran 12, Sese 10, Royo 9, Culdora 7, Capati 5, Alcantara 5, Tagarda 4, Tolentino 3, Jimenez 2


Quarterscores: 24-9, 38-34, 67-47, 92-73




Laguna takes down Stars at Xavier Gym
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
Sun Star Cebu; September 3, 2004

AFTER their recent grueling double-overtime setback, the Laguna Springs got their act together to yank the Cagayan de Oro Stars down to earth, 92-73, in the crossover phase of the NBC National Championships at the Xavier University Gym.

Ernani Epondulan sparked a big third-quarter rally that turned the close game into a rout as he scored 10 of his team-high 16 points.

As the Springs led, 38-34, at the bend, Epondulan, a former MVP with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the NCAA, started to catch fire starting with a jumper and back-to-back triples that took Laguna to a comfortable 54-43 lead.

Biggest lead
The North division leader Springs posted their biggest lead of the game with ex-pro Chris Nicdao’s dunk midway through the fourth period at 79-55.

Laguna, fresh from a heartbreaking 80-82 double-overtime loss to Tribu Sugbu last Monday, got off to a sizzling start burying the Stars in the opening quarter, 24-9.

But the Stars clawed back as Randy Alcantara and crowd-favorite Julius Navales waxed hot in the second canto.

Epondulan added two rebounds and a steal in 21 minutes of play as Robin Mendoza kept the Springs from collapsing with his all-around performance that earned him nine points, on top of two rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

Laguna scored its sixth win against four losses in the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Panasonic, Spring Cooking-Oil, Sulpicio Lines, Nature’s Spring Mineral Water, Cebu Ferries, Air Philippines, Supercat, Skygo Motorcycles, Trans-Asia, Accel, and Molten.

Seventh loss
Despite the addition of former St. Benilde slotman Ronald Capati, the Stars absorbed their seventh setback against a lone 93-87 overtime win over the Baguio Cardinals last week.


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Laguna Spring drowns CDO Stars in NBC
The Freeman; September 3, 2004

Cagayan de Oro City - The Spring Cooking Oil-backed Laguna Spring pulled the Cagayan de Oro Stars back to earth with a masterful 92-73 win in the crossover phase of the National Basketball Conference Championships before a sell-out crowd at the Xavier University gym here.

Ernani Epondulan sparked a big third quarter rally that turned the close game into a rout scoring 10 of his team-high 16 points.

The Spring of NBC president Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and Laguna Gov. Teresita “Ningning” Lazaro was just ahead by four, 38-34, at the half when Epondulan, who was a former MVP with the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the NCAA, caught fire.

The 6-foot-2 wingman opened the third quarter with a jumper and by the time he nailed back-to-back triples with 5:16 left, Laguna is comfortably ahead, 54-43.

The north-leading Spring posted its biggest lead in the game with ex-pro Chris Nicdao’s jam midway through the fourth period, 79-55.

Laguna, who came off from a heartbreaking 82-80 double-overtime loss to Cebu Tribes (Tribu Sugbu) last Monday, got off to a sizzling start burying the Stars in the opening quarter, 24-9. But the Stars clawed back into contention as Randy Alcantara and crowd favorite Julius Navales waxed hot in the second canto.

Epondulan added two rebounds and a steal in just 21 minutes but it was Robin Mendoza, who kept the Spring from collapsing with an all-around game making nine points on top of two rebounds, seven assists and five steals.

Laguna posted its sixth win against four losses to remain on top in the north division of the tournament sponsored by Panasonic, Spring Cooking-Oil, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Sulpicio Lines, Nature’s Spring Mineral Water, Cebu Ferries, Air Philippines, Supercat, Skygo Motorcycles, Trans-Asia, Accel, and Molten.

Despite bolstering their line-up by acquiring former St. Benilde’s slotman Ronald Capati, the Stars absorbed their seventh setback against their lone win over the Baguio Cardinals, 93-87, in overtime last week.