NBC-Spring blasts Indon 5

PENANG, Malaysia – NBC-Spring Cooking Oil bounced back from an opening-day loss to Thailand by blasting Indonesia Basketball League champion Satria Muda-Britama, 81-62, Monday in the 2007 Penang Chief Minister Cup-Asian invitational tournament at the Han Chiang indoor stadium here.

Ex-pros Nelson Asaytono and EJ Feihl and Dondon Villamin waxed hot from the start to power the Cooking Oil Masters of NBC president Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and EVP Mayor Bambol Tolentino to the lopsided triumph.

Outfitted by Champion Sportswear, NBC-Spring lost its touch in the final half after leading 37-29 at the turn and fell to Thailand’s national team, 73-82, in one of the opening matches.

“I told the boys to forget our heartbreaking loss to Thailand and simply focus on offense and defense,” said NBC-Spring coach Boysie Zamar.

He added that the win gave his team the confidence it badly needs as it goes up next against Iran in the tough tourney. The Iranians clobbered Thailand, 100-74 also Monday.

In other games, China’s Tianjin defeated Singapore, 62-51; Malaysia routed India, 108-65; and Iran’s national youth team blasted the Indons, 88-54.
The scores:
NBC-Spring (81) – Asaytono 20, Villamin 17, Feihl 12, Capobres 10, Marquez 7, Epondulan 6, Reyes 5, De Castro 3, Kalaw 1
SM-Britama (62) – Kurniawan 18, Sunarko 12, Sitepu 9, Wijaya 7, Gozali 6, Pratama 4, Damar 2
Quarterscores: 27-22, 49-34, 67-51, 81-62