Bacolod, Iloilo fives sustain NBTC Elite romp

BACOLOD—Purefoods TJ Hotdog-St. John’s Bacolod and Magnolia Frozen Delights-Iloilo roared to their third straight victories to reach the semifinals of the Seaoil NBTC Elite League National Finals at the West Negros College gym.

Fresh off an 83-48 demolition of B-Meg Derby Ace Ormoc, St. John’s overcame Purefoods TJ Hotdog-Davao, 99-92, to complete a sweep of Group B.

Iloilo, with a squad bannered by aces from Sun Yat Sen High School, crushed Star Margarine-Olongapo, 91-71, to claim the top spot in Group A.

San Mig Coffee-Cavite blasted San Mig Coffee-Iligan, 96-51, for its second win and all but sealed its semifinal spot.

Roel Torio, who studies at Harrel Horne Integrated School, fired 12 points to lead a balanced offensive which also saw the 6-foot-2 John Paul Sarao and Ronald Agbay chipping in 10 apiece.

Cavite secured the top spot in Group A regardless of the outcome of its game against Star Margarine-Zamboanga.

Bacolod could have two teams meeting in the semifinals of the three-day event backed by Seaoil Philippines, Burlington, Freego Jeans and Molten as its local champion San Mig Coffee-WNU looks poised to top group C, after the Baby Mustangs slipped past Purefoods TJ Hotdog-Cebu, 80-76.

The Baby Mustangs lost a 16-point lead in the final period, before Renz Solomon and Scott Heria restored order for the hosts with crucial baskets.

Solomon buried a baseline jumper with three seconds remaining to seal the win for West Negros, which was eyeing a Group C sweep against Monterey Meat Shop Cagayan de Oro at presstime.