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Pacman, Pagadian arrange all-South NBC cage finals
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TAGAYTAY CITY — MP Gensan Pacman and Pagadian scored contrasting victories Monday night to arrange an all-South finals in the 2007 Tagaytay-NBC International Invitational Cup basketball tournament at the Tolentino Sports & Activity Center here.


Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s Warriors came from behind to trim Tagaytay-Spring Cooking Oil, 79-75, after Mayor Sammy Co’s Explorers had blasted Montana Pawnshop-Davao, 98-82, in the semifinals of the tourney backed by Spring Cooking Oil, Molten, Champion Sportswear, Sulpicio Lines and Nature’s Spring.

Gensan and Pagadian were fighting it out for the crown at presstime last night.

Rolly Menor led the Warriors with 20 points but it was Miller Dennison’s fourth-quarter heroics that carried MP Pacman past the Cooking Oil Masters of NBC president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla and league EVP Mayor Bambol Tolentino.

With Tagaytay leading 64-53 early in the payoff period, Dennison banged in nine straight points to move Gensan within 62-64 at the 5:58 mark.

Arden Guiyab and Danny Capobres retaliated to make it 72-67 near the turn for home, but Menor, Arian Daja and Jomer Rubi combined for eight points to propel GenSan to a 75-71 advantage with 1:15 left.

Tagaytay refused to yield as Jeff Tajonera sank a triple to tie the count at 75, but Pacquiao’s boys scored back-to-back baskets to finalize the count.

Percius Sinco and Peter Naron sparked the Explorers’ lopsided triumph over the Jewelers with 19 and 14 points, respectively.

The scores:

PAGADIAN 98 — Sinco 19, Naron 14, Villaver 10, Orquillas 10, Quilo 9, Benitez 8, Santiago 7, Pamaran 6, Espiritu 6, Latoreno 4, Ayuk 4, Saludsod 2

DAVAO 82 — Fernandez 13, Clavel 13, Ayson 11, Dawal 11, Braga 10, Abanes 9, Poloyapoy 6, Quibod 4, Lamocha 3, Jawod 2

Quarters: 24-28, 52-38, 77-55, 98-82

* * * *

GENSAN 79 — Menor 20, Ladena 14, Dennison 11, Rubi 9, Daja 8, Farochilen 6, Coronado 5, Lumantas 2, Ramos 2, Recustodio 2, Medalla 0

TAGAYTAY 75 — Capobres 25, Marquez 14, De Castro 14, Yajonera 9, Guiyab 8, Reyes 3, Villamin 2, Yambao 0, Cuenca 0

Quarters: 22-16, 32-34, 53-59, 79-75

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Explorers turn back Pacman five, claim NBC Invt’l crown



Inquirer
Last updated 07:10am (Mla time) 11/29/2007


TAGAYTAY CITY—IT WAS A MATter of pride, with a little bit of vengeance thrown into it.

With that, the Pagadian Explorers squeaked past Manny Pacquiao’s MP Gensan Pacman Warriors, 79-74, Tuesday to rule the 2007 Tagaytay-NBC International Invitational Cup basketball tournament at the Tolentino Sports and Activity Center here.

Mel Latoreno powered the Explorers of Mayor Sammy Co to victory with a game-high 25 points.

But it was more than just the offensive heroics of the former UST standout that saved the day for Pagadian.

“I told my players that this game is all about pride,” said Pagadian coach Bong dela Cruz. “They (Warriors) beat us in the eliminations and we don’t want that to happen again. I’m glad we turned the tables in the game that mattered.”

The explorers buried 12 straight points in a telling run midway through the fourth period, one that broke a 58-all count and gave Pagadian a 70-58 spread in the battle between the two southern-based squads.

Gensan halted the run as Apol Coronado completed a three-point play off Rex Quilo, but by then things were pretty much over.

Still, the Warriors of the country’s boxing icon threatened at 74-73, 17.3 seconds left, but Latoreno and eventual MVP Percius Sinco drove the cushion baskets that made it 79-74.

Sinco was joined by Michael Orquillas, Gensan’s Rolly Menor, Davao’s Dado Ayson and Tagaytay’s Danny Capobres in the Mythical Team.

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Oil Masters, Explorers set up NBC title clash



Inquirer
Last updated 10:41pm (Mla time) 12/15/2007


PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines--Spring Cooking Oil-Tagaytay and Pagadian's Explorers trounced their respective rivals Friday night to arrange a little showdown for the Pagadian-NBC Invitational Cup basketball tournament here.

The Cooking Oil Masters of NBC president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla and EVP/Tagaytay Mayor Bambol Tolentino turned back Gerry Guardo's Arthro-Cebu, 91-79.

Spring banked on the heroics of Nani Epondulan, Ariel de Castro and Mar Reyes who combined for 55 points.

The Oil Masters will be seeing action in their first finals of the tournament hosted by Mayor Samuel Co.

In the second game, the first three-overtime contest in the four-year history of NBC saw Pagadian survive Zamboanga, 127-121.

Peter Naron and John Villaver led the Explorers with 23 and 19 points, respectively.

Playmaker Peng Concepcion paced the Latinos with 22 markers.

The NBC started playing in Pagadian at the start of the year as it staged the pre-season series on Jan. 11-15. The five-day tournament lured six teams led by inaugural national champion Tribu Sugu.

The scores:

First Game
SPRING 91--Epondulan 20, De Castro 19, Reyes 16, Yambao 9, Cuenca 9, Tajonera 7, Villamin 5, Guiyab 4, Legaspi 2.

ARTHRO 79--Justiniani 15, Ursal 12, Almacin 10, Mercado 10, Cainglet 8, Ababon 7, Bucao 6, Berami 4, Legaspi 2.

Quarterscores: 17-31; 43-52; 67-69; 91-79

Second Game
PAGADIAN 127--Naron 23, Villaver 19, Saludsud 18, Benitez 12, Espiritu 12, Sinco 7, Ayuk 6, Singedas 5, Pamaran 3, Quilo 2.

ZAMBOANGA 121--Concepcion 22, Daroya 19, Parreno 17, Ramirez 17, Briones 12, Alvarez 11, Necisito 7, Navarro 4, Dumpaig 4, Sebastian 4, Botin 4.

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Explorers top NBC Invt’l Cup



Inquirer
Last updated 00:03:00 12/17/2007


PAGADIAN CITY -- THE PAGADIAN Explorers finished strong to beat Spring Cooking Oil-Tagaytay, 90-82, on Saturday and capture the Pagadian-NBC Invitational Cup basketball tournament at the city gym.

John Villaver paced a blistering fourth-quarter rally by the Explorers of Mayor Sammy Co to trim the Cooking Oil Masters of NBC president Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and EVP/Mayor Bambol Tolentino, who led three-fourths of the way.

Villaver had 25 points to lead three other Explorers in double figures.

“We struggled for 30 minutes, but we luckily got our rhythm down the stretch,” said Pagadian coach Alvin Grey.

Villaber’s consistency in the tourney supported by Sulpicio Lines, Molten, Spring Cooking Oil and Champion Sportswear earned him the MVP award.

The scores:
PAGADIAN 90—Villaver 25, Naron 21, Espiritu 14, Quilo 12, Saludsud 4, Singco 4, Benitez 4, Santiago 3, Sierra 2, Pamaran 1.

SPRING 82—De Castro 16, Epondulan 16, Tajonera 13, Reyes 11, Guiyab 8, Legaspi 8, Yambao Jr. 5, Villamin 5.
Quarters: 19-21, 41-48, 61-63, 90-82