By Kristel Satumbaga
BANTAY, Ilocos Sur – Defending champion National Capital Region and CALABARZON bested their respective rivals to sweep the preliminary round of the secondary boys basketball in the 2018 Palarong Pambansa here.
Represented by the National University Bullpups, NCR turned back feisty SOCCSKSARGEN, 92-75, while CALABARZON, composed of San Beda players, thrashed MIMAROPA, 81-60.
Both teams kept their respective records unblemished with similar 3-0 cards to advance to today’s quarterfinals also set at the San Juan Municipal gym.
NCR, coached by Goldwyn Monteverde, opened the tournament on Monday with an 86-51 triumph over Eastern Visayas then followed it up with a 94-76 rout of Central Luzon on Tuesday.
CALABARZON, for its part, blasted Zamboanga Peninsula, 82-52, before it whipped Bicol Region, 76-60.
SOCCKSKARGEN absorbed its second straight defeat after bowing to Central Luzon, 99-96, on Monday.
