Taguig, MayniLA out to buck odds in NBL

Two talent-laden teams from the National Capital Region — Forward Taguig and MayniLA — have emerged as "darkhorse teams" in the National Basketball League (NBL) championship which resumes tomorrow at the C.P. Tinga Memorial Hall gym in Taguig.

Coach Danny Gavieres’ Taguig squad is bannered by playing coach Ronnie Cahanding, veteran point guard Robin Mendoza, Kim Macanig, Leo Vilar, Alfie Dais, Jimmy Robillos, Mike Lozano, Bong Magsambol, Atoy Bernardino, Mike Nuqui, Raymond Soto, Epok Quimpo, Erwin Santa Maria and Vincent Eric Go Bon.

MayniLA, formerly Tarlac but now supported by sports patron Alberto Lina and Manila Councilor Kim Atienza, pins its hopes on Nani Epondulan, Francis Sanz, Ogie Gumatay, Edwin Pimentel, Jean Alabanza, Sonny Manucat, Jonathan Serrano, Glenn Peter Yap, Joel Finuliar, Chris Corbin, Rodel Mallari and Mike Buendia.

MayniLA will be managed by Ronnie "Bong" Natividad and coached by Victor Ycasiano.

"We’re out to show up the favorites," echoed coaches Gavieres and Ycasiano as they prepare to make their first appearances in the tourney supported by Tanduay Rhum, Air Philippines, Gatorade, Nature’s Spring Water, Supercat, BJ Star Logistics, The Freeman and Molten Basketballs.

Compak Shineway-Ozamiz and M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu posted two victories each recently at the Medina gym in Ozamiz City to show the way in the NBL, which is televised over Channel 13 through the facilities of Silverstar Communications Inc.

Other teams in the loop are Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan, Air-Philippines-Bacolod and Pampanga Dragons.

According to NBL secretary general Tito Palma, the seven teams will play one round with the top three advancing outright to the semifinals. The fourth- and fifth-placed squads will clash in a knockout match for the fourth semis slot.

The No. 1 team will then meet the victor between 4 and 5, while Nos. 2 and 3 will collide in separate best-of-three series, with the winners advancing to the best-of-five finals.

Meanwhile, a six-foot guard from Misamis Occidental, Melfred Sampilo, earned the distinction of being the first recipient of the NBL Players of the Week award by propelling his team, Compak Shineway-Ozamiz, to two straight victories at the Gov. Angel Medina Memorial gym in Ozamiz City.

Sampilo edged out two other guards—Woodraw Enriquez and Aldrich Reyes—who combined to lift M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Jewellers of Cebu past their two rivals also on Ozamiz City.