Mayor Jose Galario Jr.’s Valencia cagers unloaded a 25-9 bomb in the payoff penod to deal the Tribesmen their first loss in the tourney serving as the second leg of the Nature’s Spring-NBC pre-season series.

In the other game of the series supported by Sulpicio Lines, Spring Cooking Oil, Molten and Prime Channel, Gov. Manny Piñol’s North Cotabato Braves finally barged into the win column by nipping the Aqua World-backed Pagadran Explorers, 73-69.

Semifinal games pitting the Tribesmen of Lito Gillamac and Mano King against the Braves and Valencia against Pagadan were being played at presstime yesterday.

Meanwhile, multi-titled Spring Cooking Oil of NBC president Nathaniel "Tac" Padilla, reigning NBC champion Ozamiz Cotta of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Triba, North Cotabato and Pagadan will see action in the third leg of the pre-season series called the Mayor Sammy Co Invitational Cup on January 11-15 in Pagadian City.

"The people here are excited to see the top NBC teams play," said Mayor Co. "It’s a good preparation for our team, which will play for the first time in the NBC this coming March."