Spring Cooking Oil rules Bahrain caging

MANAMA, Bahrain – The Philippines’ Spring Cooking Oil basketball team pulled a first-class upset Friday by crushing Bahrain’s national team, 87-67, to win the fourth Bahrain-RP Goodwill Games title at the Juffair Youth Center here.

The Cooking Oil Masters of NBC president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla jumped to early leads of 11-0 and 15-1 before taking a commanding 33-14 first-quarter advantage and never looked back.

A capacity crowd of mostly Filipino migrant workers cheered lustily throughout as the Filipinos outgunned and outhustled their taller rivals.

Ex-collegian Aldrin Morante shot six-of-six from the three-point range and topscored with 22 points while dishing out seven assists. Former Red Bull star Nelson Asaytono had another big night, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds, while ex-pro Danny Capobres contributed 17 points, including a triple which doused cold water on Bahrain’s rally that narrowed the gap to 73-63.

"The boys fought hard. They did not let our countrymen down," said coach Efren "Yong" Garcia. "Defense was the key. We pressed them from the start and limited their gunners. After three quarters, they could score only 46 points."

Team owner Padilla, a consistent national shooter, congratulated his boys from Manila. "You did our country proud," said Padilla. "I’m happy that you were able to entertain our kababayans and prove to them that we Filipinos are still among the best in Asian basketball."

Bahrain Basketball Association president Sheik Mohammed and Philippine Ambassador Pablo Maglaya presented the trophy to Spring delegation head Tito Palma and coach Garcia.

The Filipinos are scheduled to arrive at 4 p.m. today.