Spring Oil vs Korea in ABC opener

The Philippines-Spring Cooking Oil team goes up against Korea as it opens its campaign in the 10- team ABC Champions’ Cup basketball tournament on Sunday, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"It’s a tough assignment, but the boys are ready and determined," said RP-Spring delegation head and coach Tito Palma yesterday shortly before his team left for KL on board a Malaysian Airlines plane.

High-leaping Geremy Robinson and seven-time PBA Best Import Bobby Parks banner RP-Spring, co-owned by national shooting champion Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla and Herbert de Jesus and supported by Unimex Intertrade, Alfa Laval Phils., ER Enterprises, Liwayway Marketing (Oishi) and D&L Industries.

The other players are Macario Torres, Joel Co, Allan de Castro, Mario Reyes, Michael Buendia, Efren Garcia, Erwin Luna, Jasper Javier and Ricky Ricafuente. Bert Polido is the team manager while Ricky Magallanes is assistant coach.

Spring, which earned the right to represent the country by winning the national title at the expense of Korea, will also meet Hong Kong on April 30, Lebanon on May 1 and Saudi Arabia on May 2 in the other Group A matches.

The other teams, all in Group B, are Qatar, Syria, Malaysia, India and Bahrain.

This is the first time since 1999 that a Philippine team will see action in the ABC Champions’ Cup. Beeper 150 and Pasig Pirates played in 1998 and 1999, respectively, both finishing eighth.