MANILA, Philippines - Lucena City pulled the rug from under Karis team, 72-69, for its first win while Smart continues to lord it over the Quezon front recently in the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League at the Bethel Gym in Lucena City.
Darrel Villaruel had 16 points while Andrew Caracot posted 13 markers as their team snapped a three-game losing skid in this 18-and-under tournament backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corporation under the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas headed by Manny Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala.
Ryan Magadia had 22 points for Karis, which also absorbed a second loss in four games in the tournament also supported by San Miguel Purefoods Company, Smart Communications and Burlington.
Smart-Lucena now holds a 3-1 card after nipping QPL, 89-84, as Michael Orinday had 18, Edilberto Almonte 13 and Jonjon Hernandez 10. For QPL, which dropped to a 2-2 record, Domenick Vera had 17 while Raymund Dimaculanga and Ralph Losloso tallied 14 and 11, respectively.
The Nokia NBTC D-League 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.
The league now has 108 teams backed by commercial and local government units. After the inter-city and regional finals, the national finals will be held in May at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.