SLU-Star Margarine tops Nokia Baguio leg

MANILA, Philippines - Saint Louis University-Star Margarine escaped from a gritty University of Baguio-Victory Liner side, 83-80, to win the Baguio Inter-City basketball tournament of the Nokia National Basketball Training Center Developmental League (NBTC) D-League.

SLU-Star Margarine was led by Roben Baltazar with 13 points while Sherwin Delos Santos and Mark Rimando added 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the tournament backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corporation under the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas headed by Manny Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala.

Carlo Siobal had a game high 22 points for the UB-Victory Liner Squad while Rodel de Leon had 16 in the event supported by San Miguel Purefoods Company, Smart Communications and Burlington.

From a 75-59 deficit with 6:32 left in the payoff canto, UB-Victory Liner roared back to life and pulled a 17-8 rally to bring SLU’s lead down to only six, 83-77, with 56.5 seconds left.