by Anthony Servinio December 9, 2003
SAN Pablo City – Spring Cooking Oil-San Pablo advanced to the semifinal round of the Panasonic National Basketball League (NBL) Regional Conference by besting Restolax Mail & More-MayniLA, 76-65, Tuesday evening (December 9) at the Florante Aquino Stadium.
Marphyl Limbo was the last man called off the bench by Coach Ted Magno but he made the biggest impact. Limbo combined with Rodel Manuel and Melchor Crisostomo during the critical third period that saw Spring outscore MayniLA, 21-13, and build a 61-49 edge entering the final period. However, the third period also saw the ejection of Spring’s starting center Rolly Menor with 4:18 left. Sans Menor, the veteran Crisostomo took over.
MayniLA tried their best to force a winner-take-all match as Francis Sanz and Jonathan Serrano rallied the troops in the final period. Still, Limbo unloaded seven points to cool their opponent’s rally hopes as Spring coasted to the win. The MayniLA quintet sorely missed the services of prolific guard Ernani Epondulan who was down with a bad fever.
Up next for Spring in the semifinals is top seed M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu. The Cebuanos earned a free pass to the semis by virtue of their topping the team standings.
Limbo topped Spring with 17 points while Manuel added 16 points. Crisostomo had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Sanz led MayniLA with 20 points and 12 rebounds while Serrano chipped in 13 points.
Up north at the Santo Domingo People’s Center in Ilocos Sur, the Ilocos Sur Snipers needed an overtime to survive the Sulpicio Lines-Pampanga Raging Bulls, 95-88. The Snipers will now meet the winner of the series between defending champion Shineway Compak-Ozamiz and Grachiya-Adamson Falcons.
Shineway, Ilocos Sur Close Sked With Wins
by Anthony Servinio December 8, 2003
OZAMIZ City – Defending champion Shineway Compak-Ozamiz closed out the classification round schedule of the Panasonic National Basketball League (NBL) Regional Conference with a resounding 75-61 win over the Sulpicio Lines-Pampanga Raging Bulls Saturday night (December 6) at the Governor Angel N. Medina Sr. Memorial Gymnatorium.
Shineway improved its win-loss record to 5-2, good for third place and a date with sixth placed Grachiya-Adamson Falcons in the quarterfinals.
Earlier in the day at the Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong City, the Ilocos Sur Snipers thwarted the tough challenge of Restolax Mail & More-MayniLA, 95-86. The win enabled the Snipers to tie idle M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu on top of the leader board at 6-1. However, the Cebuanos grabbed the top spot and a free pass to the semifinals by virtue of their win over the Snipers in the classification round.
MayniLA constantly threatened behind the hot hands of Ernani Epondulan. The game went down the wire with MayniLA threatening with two minutes left, 77-81. Suddenly, Kenny Evans uncorked a pair of triples that built a 93-82 lead at the 15-second mark and thwart the hopes of the Capital City cagers.
The Snipers will face the Bulls in the quarterfinals while MayniLA meets the Spring Cooking Oil-San Pablo 7-Lakers. The Snipers and 7-Lakers enjoy the twice to beat advantage.
Evans topped all scorers with 29 points. Antonio Reyes added 19. Epondulan paced MayniLA with 26 points while Francis Sanz chipped in 12 markers.
Spring, MayniLA Strengthen Playoff Bids
by Anthony Servinio November 27, 2003
MANILA – The Restolax Mail & More-MayniLA squad arrested their losing skid by escaping with a nail biter against host Grachiya-Adamson Falcons, 63-61, in the Panasonic National Basketball League (NBL) Regional Conference Thursday night (November 28) at the Adamson University Gym.
MayniLA appeared headed for an easy win as they controlled the first half behind Malai Malabanan, Francis Sanz, Ernani Epondulan and former Falcon Bong Salvador, 38-39. However, the Falcons staged a big rally behind Mark Abadia and Patrick Cabahug to seize control entering the final period, 54-51.
The Capital City cagers regained the lead until Jojo Hate made two free throws off Malabanan to tie the game for the last time with 1:59 to play, 59-59. Epondulan then sank a big triple with 1:03 left push MayniLA back on top, 62-59. Cabahug scored to threaten at the 17-second mark, 61-62. Not yet in the penalty situation, the Falcons were forced to go on a fouling spree to stop the clock. Playing assistant coach Efren Garcia made his first free throw for the final tally then wisely missed his second with four seconds on the clock and the Falcons collaring the defensive rebound. Abadia’s desperation heave from mid-court circled the rim before popping out at the buzzer.
Sanz paced MayniLA with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Epondulan added 10. Abadia and Cabahug led the Falcons with 21 and 13 points respectively.
M. Lhuillier Creams MayniLA, 75-73
by Anthony Servinio November 22, 2003
MANILA – The rampage of M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu over the opposition in the Panasonic National Basketball League (NBL) Regional Conference continued Saturday afternoon (November 22) at the University of Manila Gym with host Restolax Mail & More-MayniLA as the victim, 75-73. The Cebuanos streaked to their sixth straight win while the Capital City squad dipped to 1-2.
Playing with less than 24 hours rest, M. Lhuillier ran off with the first period as Aldrin Ocañada scattered 12 points, 23-15. The Cebuanos held their form to lead at the half, 43-34.
Fatigue began to set in, allowing MayniLA to stage a telling 8-0 run early in the third period to grab back the lead for the first time behind Bong Salvador, Ernani Epondulan and Jonathan Serrano. However, M. Lhuillier recovered to keep a slim one-point edge entering the final period, 58-57. The game went down the wire. Francis Sanz scored to tie the game for the last time, 72-72. However, Sanz fouled Aldrich Reyes with 47 seconds left with Reyes sinking both free throws to break the tie, 74-72. MayniLA bungled its next possession, forcing them to foul Ruben dela Rosa with 30 ticks on the clock. Dela Rosa then split his charities, 75-72, and then quickly went back on defense to swipe the ball away from Epondulan. M. Lhuillier managed to launch several shots until Epondulan grabbed the rebound only to be fouled hard by dela Rosa resulting in a technical foul at the nine-second mark. Epondulan sank the free throw to close in, 73-75. With possession staying with MayniLA, Serrano drove hard for the basket but the ball was coughed out by the ring and dela Rosa grabbing the defensive rebound to keep M. Lhuillier’s win streak alive.
Bruce Dacia powered M. Lhuillier with 14 points, followed by Ocañada whose 12 points all came in the first period. Epondulan led MayniLA with 18 markers while Serrano chipped in 16. The win assures M. Lhuillier of hosting one of the two semifinal brackets beginning December 9.
MayniLA, Ilocos down NBL rivals
Inquirer News Service November 17, 2003
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Restolax/Mail & More-MayniLA debuted on a winning note as it edged Sulpicio Lines-Pampanga, 80-76, Saturday in the 2003 Panasonic-National Basketball League Regional Cup tournament at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.
Ernani Epondulan powered MayniLA to the victory by drilling in 27 of his 31 points in the second half.
In the other match, the Ilocos Sur Snipers whipped defending champion Compak Shineway-Ozamiz, 85-74, to make it three in a row and regain solo leadership in the tourney sponsored by Panasonic, BJ Star Logistics, Sulpicio Lines, Molten and Nature's Spring.
Billy Bansil and Marlon Tadeo lifted the Raging Bulls to a 40-36 lead at halftime but Epondulan scattered 14 points in the third quarter to shove the Manilans ahead, 60-57
Snipers Now 3-0; MayniLA In Good Debut
by Anthony Servinio November 15, 2003
CITY of San Fernando, Pampanga – Restolax Mail & More-MayniLA made an impressive debut in the Panasonic National Basketball League (NBL) Regional Conference by hacking out a win on the road Saturday night (November 15) against the Sulpicio Lines-Pampanga Raging Bulls, 80-76, at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.
Despite showing up with only a 10-man lineup, the Bulls of Coach Lawrence Chongson controlled the first half, 40-36, behind Billy Bansil and Marlon Tadeo.
The lack of manpower then tolled on the Bulls come the second half, as they allowed Ernani Epondulan to heat up and scatter 16 markers of his own in the third period alone and thus allowing the Capital City cagers to surge ahead entering the final period, 60-57.
The Bulls would momentarily regain the edge behind two triples by Sherwin Garcia and two free throws by Alvin Pua, 67-65. Jonathan Serrano scored to knot the count at 67-67. Epondulan then caught fire again by scoring seven unanswered points to build their lead entering the final two minutes, 74-67. The Bulls continued to threaten but these were quickly defused by good free throw shooting by Francis Sanz and Epondulan in the final 30 seconds. Playing assistant coach Michael Buendia then made a key steal off the inbound pass preserve the win for new head coach Ricky Magallanes.
Epondulan was unstoppable as he unloaded 27 of his 31 points in the second half. Serrano supported him with 14 points. Tadeo topped the Bulls with 21 points while Bansil knocked in 19 points.
In the opening game, the Ilocos Sur Snipers grabbed the solo leadership with their third straight win in as many starts at the expense of defending champion Shineway Compak-Ozamiz, 85-74. The champs dropped to 1-2.
MayniLA wins anew in NBL cage fest
by Roy Luarca
Inquirer News Service June 21, 2003
MAYNILA banked on a three-pronged attack to rout Pampanga Bulls, 97-80, Thursday night and retain the lead in the National Basketball League national championship at the Lyceum of the Philippines gym.
Outside gunners Ralph Rivera and Ernani Epondulan and inside force Francis Sanz combined for 60 points as MayniLA cruised to its fifth straight win against no losses.
Rivera scored 21 points, Epondulan 20 and Sanz 19 for MayniLA, which is backed by businessman Bert Lina and the Atienza brothers, Councilor Kim and Manila Sports Council chair Ali.
The youthful Bulls fell to 3-2.
Forward Taguig relied on a strong finishing kick to beat Spring Cooking Oil, 95-88, in the opener.
Taguig leveled its record at 2-2 while Spring suffered its seventh straight loss.
Lhuillier gets 2 new players
by Roy Luarca
Inquirer News Service July 11, 2003
PACESETTER M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala of Cebu is really bent on topping the National Basketball League national finals.
Boasting a bench good enough to win five of its six games, M. Lhuillier further enhanced its title chances with the acquisition of veterans Ruben de la Rosa and Bruce Dacia.
Lhuillier coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba is expected to use the 6-foot-2 De la Rosa and the 6-foot-3 Dacia, both former slam dunk champions, when the Cebuanos tangle with Air Philippines Bacolod (2-5) in the 4 p.m. opener at the Gov. Angel N. Medina Sr. Memorial Gym in Ozamiz City.
MayniLA (7-2) battles Compak Shineway Ozamiz (3-3) at 6 p.m.
MayniLA, being backed by Air 21 chair Bert Lina and Manila Sports Council head Ali Atienza, is expected to lean anew on NBL scoring leader Ernani Epondulan, Francis Sanz and Ralph Rivera against the host team.
Today's twinbill as well as tomorrow's games, pitting AirPhil against MayniLA at 1 p.m. and Compak Shineway against M. Lhuillier at 3 p.m., are Mayor Reynaldo O. Pajorinog's offerings to his constituents, who are celebrating the city fiesta.
NBL games in Talisay reset
by Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.
Sun Star Bacolod July 09, 2003
THE National Basketball League (NBL) provincial games originally slated to dribble off Tuesday and Wednesday at the Talisay City Gym was reset to July 20.
The Administered Training Leading to the Empowerment of Talisay Athletes (Atleta) bankrolls the tournament in cooperation with the Talisay City Tourism Office and the Talisay City Council.
Executive Assistant III Ronnie de las Alas, concurrent Talisay City sports coordinator, said the endeavor "had been rescheduled as advised."
He did not elaborate further except saying that “it was the decision of NBL.”
Four squads will see action in the provincial leg.
To showcase their stuff in hardcourt skirmishes are Forward Taguig, Shineway Compak-Ozamiz, M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu, and AIR Philippines-Bacolod Flights.
The southern-based Ozamiz Five will battle the northern-based Taguig squad while the Lawrence Chongson-mentored Bacolod Flights will see action against the Cebuano squad.
Basketball aficionados in Negros Occidental will have the chance to see anew their new set of sports heroes after the fold-up of the five-year Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) featuring the Negros Slashers.
Through the NBL, regional basketball has been brought back to the provinces and aims to inspire more youth to pursue their passion in sports.
Air Philippines will have Butch Disini and Charlie Yu as team manager and consultant, respectively.
Erstwhile Negros Slashers mainstay an ex-pro Carlo Espiritu, and former pros Junel Mendiola, Francis Aquino, Bernard de Guia, Rene Alforque, Paul Du, Ferdinand Go, and Joshua Lambert will join budding stars Mike Bravo, Ricky Ricafuente, Alvin Pua, Celso Pile and Rommel Pingol.
Forward Taguig, on the other hand, will field in cagers Robillos, Roldan, Mendoza, Cahanding, Sta. Maria, Soto, Vilar, Bernardino, Macanig, Nuqui, Quimpo, and Dais.
Air Philippines-Bacolod is bracketed in the NBL’s southern conference along with neighbor Negros Oriental, M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu, and Shineway Compak-Ozamiz.
The northern conference boasts of Spring Cooking Oil, Forward Taguig, Pampanga Dragons and Tarlac Stallions.
Earlier, Maynila drubbed Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan, 89-80, to reclaim the solo leadership in the NBL National Championship at the San Juan Gym.
Earlier in the day, Air Philippines-Bacolod finally barged into the win column by trouncing the struggling Pampanga Bulls, 92-80.
With the score tied at 66-66, Ernani Epondulan sparked a crucial 11-3 run to erect an eight-point MayniLA lead with 3:39 to play, 77-69.
From there, Bulacan tested MayniLA from the free-throw line and the Capital City cagers responded by going 10 out of 11 to preserve the win.
Epondulan shot 28 points to lead MayniLA while Francis Sanz added 20 points. Tyrone Bautista and Jovy Sese both had 17 points to pace Spring. MayniLA is now half a game ahead of idle M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu with a 6-1 win-loss card. Spring dropped to 1-8, putting its playoff hopes in jeopardy.
AirPhil caught the Bulls napping and jumped to a 20-4 start behind Carlo Espiritu and Junel Mendiola. The Bulls never recovered from the opening salvo and AirPhil coasted to the easy win. Mendiola pumped in key baskets in the final minutes to maintain their distance.
Mendiola finished with 22 points to give the Bacolod Five their first win of the tournament after four losses. Francis Aquino added 14 markers. Welihado Duyag and Elvis Tolentino topped the Bulls with 19 points each. Bulls lost for the second straight game for a 3-3 card.
The NBL is seen over IBC-13 through the facilities of Silverstar Communications and with the assistance of Tanduay Rhum, Air Philippines, Cebu Ferries, Nature’s Spring Drinking Water, Supercat, BJ Star Logistics, Panasonic, Sinners and Saints, The Freeman, Jaguar KTV, Gatorade and Molten Basketballs.
MayniLA trips Taguig; Pampanga Bulls debut with win over Bulacan
by Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun Star June 10, 2003
MAYNILA displayed its winning character as it escaped past Forward Taguig, 70-69, while the debuting Pampanga Bulls added to the woes of embattled Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan with a 74-72 squeaker victory in the NBL National Championship at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.
The night of thrillers started with the game between MayniLA and Forward Taguig that was decided only when Ernani Epondulan was sent to the free-throw line by Robin Mendoza at the buzzer to secure the win for MayniLA, after a 69-all deadlock.
Epondulan was also responsible for giving MayniLA an equalizer at the foul- throw line in the final 48 seconds of the game. Taguig failed to make a basket after Mendoza was slapped with an offensive foul at the 10-second mark.
The win gave MayniLA a share of the lead in the standings with M. Lhuillier-Cebu Jewelers and Compak Shineway-Ozamis both with 2-0 win-loss marks.
Pampanga, on the other hand, debuted with a bang, handing the Cooking Oil Masters of Bulacan their fourth straight defeat to remain at the cellar along with Air Philippines Bacolod Flights, who were also winless after three games in the regional-based basketball tournament gaining ground in its second conference.
MayniLA (70) – Epondulan 19, Sanz 14, Serrano 11, Gumatay 8, Yap 5, Corbin 5, Mallari 4, Alabanza 2, Finuliar 2.
Forward Taguig (69) – Robillos 20, Roldan 14, Mendoza 9, Cahanding 8, Sta. Maria 4, Soto 4, Vilar 4, Bernardino 3, Macanig 1, Nuqui 2. Quarterscores: 24-13, 43-32, 55-53, 70-69.
NBL’s Tarlac team relocates to Manila
by Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun Star June 05, 2003
TARLAC City changed locations, from about 125 kilometers up north to the heart of Manila down south and now calls itself MayniLA in the National Basketball League (NBL) National Championships.
Days before, the Tarlac Stallions stunned the league by announcing its move to Manila, although MayniLA with prime movers Ronnie “Bong” Natividad and Victor Ycasiano retained their jobs as team manager and head coach, respectively.
The transfer, backed by sports patron Bert Lina, owner of the Fedex Express team in the PBA, and Manila councilor Kim Atienza, includes making the San Andres Sports Center in Malate District its homecourt. San Andres was the homecourt of the Manila Metro Stars in the Metropolitan Basketball Association.
The NBL intends to propagate the league in the provinces but its relevance in basketball-saturated Metro Manila is much needed – and that task fell on the shoulders of MayniLA and Forward Taguig.
Coach Ycasiano assembled a cast of characters who used to play for him in the MBA, such as NCAA 2001 season MVP Nani Epondulan, Francis Sanz, Ogie Gumatay, Edwin Pimentel, Jean Alabanza and Sonny Manucat.
MayniLA incorporated former Metro Star Jonathan Serrano, shooter Glenn Peter Yap, defensive ace Joel Finuliar, big men Chris Corbin, Rodel Mallari and Mike Buendia to complete its rooster.
In its pre-conference games, Ycasiano’s ward showed a lot of promise when they beat Air Philippines-Bacolod and Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan.
Meanwhile, Taguig coach Danny Gavierres bared his team list as they host the games today. His squad is composed of assistant coach Ronnie Cahanding and Robin Mendoza, old hands Kim Macanig, Leo Vilar, Alfie Dais, Jimmy Robiloos, Mike Lozano, Bong Magsambol, Atoy Bernardino and Mike Nuqui.
Debuting Tarlac is NBL dark horse
by Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun Star May 1, 2003
NEW addition Tarlac Stallions are tagged as the dark-horse team in the revitalized community-based league – the National Basketball League (NBL) which will have its National Championships open on May 10 in Ozamis City.
Tarlac, which belongs to the division of another revitalized squad, Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan, Forward Taguig and Pampanga in the Northern Division, is among the three new members of the regionalized basketball tournament that also signed up: Bacolod City and Negros Oriental Province.
Named to call the shots for the Stallions is Victor Ycasiano, the last coach of the Cagayan de Oro Amigos before the MBA closed shop last year. The Stallions will play their home games at the Tarlac State University Gym in Tarlac City.
Ycasiano picked his former Amigos players, led by the 2001 NCAA MVP Ernani “Nani” Epondulan, Francis Sanz, Cornelio “Sonny” Manucat III, Jean Michael Alabanza, Edwin Pimentel and Joseph “Ogie” Gumatay.
Completing the Tarlac line-up are former players of Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan, which just underwent a major facelift upon the assumption of Bobby Parks of the head coaching job. Tarlac is a combination of youth and experience and many watchers confirmed that the team will be an upstart in the competition. RCM Ycasianao will be assisted by Jay Chu and Jude Roque.
“I have consulted the people of Tarlac and they have been very receptive to the team,” said Ycasiano. “I am also looking at some local boys they recommended for possible inclusion in the roster since I have up to four spots to fill.”
NBL rules stated that a team must have at least two homegrown players from the locality they represent.
The Northern team will have surely face tough challenge against the Southern Division teams that includes the Regional Championship titlists Shineway Ham Sausage-Ozamis City, M. Lhuillier-Cebu City, Bacolod City and Negros Oriental.