SPRING Cooking Oil-Laguna will be reinforced by two talented Americans when it competes in the Sultan Cup invitational basketball tournament in Darussalam, Brunei on Sept. 20 to Oct. 1.
The two are 6-foot-9 slotman Faheem Nelson and 6-foot-6 guard Keith Friel.
"We expect to get a lot of help from these veteran players,’’ said playing coach Mike Buendia.
The other members of the team co-owned by national shooting champion Nathaniel "Tac’’ Padilla and Laguna Gov. Teresita "Ningning’’ Lazaro are Nani Epondulan, Robin Mendoza, Mar Reyes, Marlon Kalaw, Rodel Manuel, Mike Garcia, Chris Corbin, Danny Capobres and Christian Nicdao.
Tito Palma, NBC (National Basketball Conference) secretary general, is the delegation head. Dennis Lazaro is the team manager and former PBA star Vic Sanchez is the assistant coach.
Two other Philippine teams – Red Bull Barako and Purefoods – will see action in the tourney together with the Shanghai Sharks, Taiwan’s Chuon Tzu Yu Lon and Korea’s TG Sambo Xers.
The Cooking Oil Masters meet the Taiwanese on Sept. 21 and the Koreans on Sept. 22 in the preliminary round of the tourney which offers an estimated R1 million for the champion.
"We are honored to be invited to this prestigious event,’’ said Padilla and Gov. Lazaro, whose team is currently on top of the North division in the ongoing NBC tourney.
Nelson played for three US colleges – Southern Idaho, L.A. Valley and Biola University before turning pro. He led his team, Hamar, to the Iceland (Intersport) League playoffs where he averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks per game.
Friel was named New Hampshire player of the year in his senior year and was a three-time First Team All State Selection member.
Buendia, Corbin, Epondulan and Manuel played for Goh Brothers, which won the title last year when the event was limited to Brunei clubs spiced up by Filipino players.
