MANILA, Philippines - Caloocan, with Arjhay Napenas firing 24 points and Rodel Garcia adding 14, ousted Valenzuela, 77-70, in their knockout match to join three other cities in the five-team Inter-Zonal round of the second Coca-Cola Hoopla National Capital Region Championship last Sunday.
Valenzuela forced the rubber match after beating Caloocan, 77-66, Saturday. But there was no denying the top team of the North Zone this time as it advanced to the two-round Inter-Zonal after Quezon City (East), Mandaluyong (Central) and Antipolo (West), with action reeling off May 29.
Only the South Zone remains without a winner as four of the five teams in contention remain in a fierce battle for the top spot.
Pasay, which forfeited its first round game with Las Pinas, rolled back defending champion Muntinlupa, 99-86, to recover lost ground and climb back to 5-3, the same slate held by their opponent at the penultimate day of the Inter-City competition.
Harold Lomtong and Gio Ramos combined for 52 points for Pasay. Taguig, on the other hand, crushed Parañaque, 69-40, to lead the hunt with its fifth win in seven games. Joshua Maayor had 10 points and Christian Barro nine to pace Taguig in the highly-defensive match.
Ongoing at presstime were the critical matches pitting Pasay against Parañaque and Taguig versus Las Piñas (3-4).