Blue Hawks puntirya ang 3-peat sa NCRAA

MANILA, Philippines -- Nakatutok ang Immaculada Concepcion College sa 'three-peat' sa National Capital and Regional Athletic Association (NCRAA) Season 31 men’s basketball tournament sa Abril.

Kinopo ng Blue Hawks ang back-to-back championship matapos ang 65-62 pagtakas sa De La Salle University-Dasmariñas sa deciding Game Three ng kanilang title series.

“For this season, the team to beat is still ICC, the defending, back-to-back champion,” sabi kahapon ni NCRAA President Gerry Sergio ng Salle-Dasmariñas. “But all teams this 31st season are all competitive which assures of a balanced competition.”

Nakasama ni Sergio si long-time NCRAA General Manager Buddy Encarnado sa Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum sa conference hall ng Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Dumalo rin sina NCRAA officials Joseph Ortega (secretary) ng Philippine Merchant Marine School, Engr. Ted Cada (treasurer) ng Asian Institute of Maritime Studies at Benjamin Hernandez (auditor) ng host school PATTS College of Aeronautics.

Ang mga magtatangkang hubaran ng korona ang ICC ay ang Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna, University of Luzon, Olivarez College, Bestlink College of the Philippines at Integrated School.

Inimbitahan sa opening ceremony ng liga sina dating NCRAA stars Ranidel at Yancy De Ocampo, Vic Manuel at Gary David.

“This is our small way of contributing to the national effort particularly to the Gilas Pilipinas program. So a little league like the NCRAA is doing its best,” sabi ni Encarnado, dating PBA board chairman at team manager ng Sta. Lucia sa sesyon na inihandog ng San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, MILO at 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.

Ang tournament format ay isang single round robin kung saan ang top eight teams ang papasok sa quarterfinals kasunod ang knockout semifinals, habang ang finals ay isang best-of-three series.