Laguna, Pampanga rule NBTC

Health Solutions-Laguna swept the South Luzon division while Pampanga Delta routed its finals opponent en route to the first conference titles recently in the National Basketball Training Center D-League presented by Nokia at separate venues.

HS-Laguna came up with the finishing touches to a spotless 8-0 record by beating B-Meg Batangas, 79-39, and Quezon Power Limited-Lucena, 83-50.

The tournament is under the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas headed by Manny V. Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala and supported by Molten and Nike.

HS-Laguna’s Ryusei Koga, who was named Most Valuable Player, scored 13 points each in both games held at the Batangas City Sports Center.

QPL beat Dasmariñas Cavite, 73-48, to finish with a 5-3 card while its victim closed with a 0-8 card, which included a 70-79 loss to B-Meg Batangas (3-5).

John Manabat was named MVP as the Pampanga Delta made mincemeat of Tarlac, 105-46, in the finals at the University of the Assumption in Pampanga.

Manabat fired 19 points followed by Kevin Mendiola’s 18 and Jimmy Mallari’s 14.

Team Nueva Ecija Foundation bagged third place following a 75-64 win over the Olongapo Volunteers, 75-64. Ayie Bajacan (13 points), JM Mendoza (12) and Joemari Santiago (12) shone for the Novo Ecijanos.

Pampanga Delta was poised for a sweep but was upset by Olongapo, 52-67, before bouncing back to rout Nueva Ecija, 67-56, to finish with a 5-1 record.

Tarlac and Olongapo closed the eliminations with identical 3-3 records while Team Nueva has a 1-5 card.