Energen trips Purefoods for second NBTC win

MANILA, Philippines - Energen-Pampanga trounced Purefoods-Pampanga, 91-80, to notch its second straight win in the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League at the University of the Assumption (UA) gym in San Fernando, Pampanga recently.

John Manabat fired 15 while Gerald David added 14 points as Energen-Pampanga became the first local team to post back-to-back wins in the tournament backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corp. under the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Albert Sibal shot 24 points for Purefoods, which absorbed its first loss in the tournament backed by San Miguel Purefoods Company, Smart Communications and Burlington.

Smart-Pampanga bounced back from an opening day loss to Energen as it bested B-MEG Pampanga, 74-65, with Hector de Los Santos and Meljan Magtoto combining for 28 points and Dennis Villanueva adding 11 points.

The tournament is envisioned to be a feeder program for varsity squads and teams catering to leagues such as the UAAP, NCAA, Philippine Basketball League, Philippine Basketball Association and the Liga Pilipinas.

From only 29 clubs, the league field has grown to 108 teams backed by commercial and local government units.

The tournament will have an inter-city, regional and national finals, the latter of which is set in May 2010 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. The national finals will feature teams from NCR contesting the NCR title and teams from the provinces battling it out for the national title.