Santos trips B-Meg, gains NBTC finals

MANILA, Philippines - Santos Petroleum of Iloilo routed B-Meg Experts Cebu, 88-55, to capture the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League Visayas crown at the USC Main Gym last Wednesday in Cebu City.

Orly Pelopero had 22 points while Janno Francisco had 12 points as the Ilongos dominated the B-Meg side from start to finish.

Santos Petroleum thus joined Smart Manila, Health Solutions-Laguna and Energen Davao in the national finals of the tournament organized by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and backed by Nokia Philippines, TAO Corp., Nike, Molten and Philippine Airlines.

The national finals is set May 7-9 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Pelopero joined Gerry Abadiano of Iloilo, Janus Calma of Cebu, Clint Nunez of Cebu and Daryl Nazareno of Cebu in the mythical five.

The CESAFI All-Stars, meanwhile, bested a Nokia Pilipinas U-16 team that played minus Kiefer Ravena, Mike Pate and Michael Tolomia, 59-45.