Nokia cage finals get going today

FOUR teams that emerged as champions in regional eliminations will dispute the crown as the best 16-under team in the country today when the Nokia National Basketball Training Center D-League national finals get going at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Battling for the crown in the event supported by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corp. and held under the auspices of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas are Smart-Manila, Health Solutions-Laguna, Santos Petroleum and Energen Davao. Games are free to the public up to Saturday.

Smart-Manila is the prohibitive favorite to reign supreme but coach "Ato" Badolato, also San Beda’s juniors coach, quickly downplayed his team’s chances.

"We are not as prepared as the others since most of our players are also suiting up for other leagues. What’s going for us is that the players are well-conditioned for the finals," said Badolato, whose team will be bannered by Baser Amer, Dave Moralde, Kyle Neypes, Aljon Mariano, Roldan Sara and Russel Escoto.

Badolato said Energen-Davao should be the top contender, with nine of its 18 players forming part of the Davao team that lost to the NCR team in the recent Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban City.

Energen coach Eldy Cunanan admitted his team is cohesive but said unfamiliarity with his team’s rivals will be the biggest hurdle in the finals.

"Manila has tall players just like the ones we fought in the Palarong Pambansa but as far as ability is concerned, we are even with them," said Cunanan, who will rely on players like Van Adam Abatayo and Daniel Sumalinog, among others.

Santos Petroleum under coach Bing Conlu was not too positive on his team’s chances because the squad’s men, Orly Pelopero and Francis Donahue, are now scrimmaging with University of the East and National University, respectively. The team is a contender, however, considering it pulled the rug from under tough Cebu squads like Daisy Condensada and BMEG Experts.