West Negros College hopes to improve its quarterfinal finish last year when it sees action in the 60th National Students Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championships from Feb. 24 to March 4 in Bicol, sources from the school said.

The WNC Mustangs, who have brought home the championship of the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association collegiate basketball tournament for seven consecutive years, will battle against the top tertiary cagers in the Philippines during the two-week hostilities.

West Negros coach Elvis Atinado expressed optimism that his squad will put up a good showing in the tournament. "We have a bigger chance of winning this year compared to last year", he said.

The Mustangs, who reached the quarterfinal-round in the 2005 national inter-collegiate competitions before losing to the University of Perpetual Help, got over the hump last year after winning its first national crown by ruling the National University Games basketball hostilities at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

"The players are practicing hard to top the upcoming national event and their aggressiveness are really impressive because they are fresh from another national stint in the PRISAA," Atinado said. Wesnecans Sonny Abaring, Severino Baclao, Stanley Tizon, Ely Olarte and Vengie Vergara saw action for the Western Visayas basketball squad that placed third in the National PRISAA Games in Pangasinan last week after losing to powerhouse National Capital Region, represented by the University of Sto. Tomas, in the semifinals.

The five standouts --- Abaring, Baclao, Tizon, Olarte and Vergara -- are also expected to spearhead West Negros' campaign in the national inter-collegiate tournament.

Meanwhile, the junior boys' squad of WNC will compete in the Philippine Basketball Federation Incorporated's National Students Basketball Championships that fires off Saturday in Rizal, Antipolo.

The Baby Mustangs of Dennis Tumayan will leave for Manila on Thursday. *CIT

back to top

Mustangs target national crown
NBA tournament moved to March
Bacoleño tops dartfest
52 teams confirm entry in NOVA age-group tilt
RG Purefoods snaps skid