Spring Oil turns back ML Kwarta

CEBU CITY – Reigning national champion Spring Cooking Oil got off to a big start in the CBL (Cebu Basketball league) Hoop Encounter last Sunday by downing top-rated ML Kwarta Padala, 78-74, at the Cebu Coliseum here.

Braulio Lim led four others who scored in double figures as the Cooking Oil Masters held off the Cebuanos before a huge opening-day crowd. ML Kwarta Padala was bannered by Peter Naron and four other former MBA stars.

Lim tallied 16 points and got able support from Rodel Manuel, who scored 15; Tyrone Bautista (12), Dave Bautista (10) and Lito Saygo (10).

"I admire the boys for their gutsy performance," said Spring Cooking Oil team owner Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla, the national shooting champion. "It’s a big boosts to their title aspirations."

Two other Cebu teams — M. Lhuillier and University of the Visayas —prevailed in the other games.

The Jewellers toppled Forward Taguig, 97-86, while the Green Lancers spilled the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 80-77.

Spring was playing the Green Lancers late yesterday. The other games pitted forward Taguig against the Jaguars and M. Lhuillier against ML Kwarta padala.