QC unbeaten in Coke Hoopla

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City preserved its unbeaten slate while Taguig nursed back to health its faltering playoffs as the inter-zonal phase of the second Coca-Cola Hoopla National Capital Region Championship reached a critical stage Saturday.

QC turned back Mandaluyong, 99-90, at the Mandaluyong gym, while Taguig wore down Caloocan, 75-71, at the C.P. Tinga Gym in Taguig.

Barely hanging on, 77-76, QC, which led by as many as 10 points, 57-47, engineered a decisive 9-2 run before coasting the rest of the way.

“We had to labor to get this one,” said QC coach Rene Baena. “Mandaluyong gave us a lot of problem.”

Quezon City needs only to beat second running Antipolo on the final day of the semis to formally clinch the No. 1 spot and the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoff.

With one more game left before the playoffs, Quezon City leads the five-team semis with a  3-0 card, followed by Antipolo 2-1, Mandaluyong and Taguig at 1-2 and Caloocan 1-3.

John Christopher Villarosa paced Quezon City with 29 points.

Taguig was held at bay by Caloocan and had to rely on the late heroics of Joshua Morris Mayor, Efren Parado and Armin Santos to preserve the win.

The scores:

Quezon City 99 – Villarosa 29, Porciuncula 16, Abragan 14, Pangan 10, Estrella 9, De Leon 9, Lazaro 4, Boquiren 3, Gadian 3, Bitoon 0, Buenaflor 0.

Mandaluyong 90 – Posadas 18, Rebugio 16, Cerbito 16, Menosoba 10, Crespo 8, Gambala 6, Tendencia 6, Reyes 4, Hugo 3, Go 0, Valeriano 0.

Quarterscores: 18-19, 46-41, 71-68, 99-90

Second Game

Taguig 75 – Mayor 27, Parado 12, Santos 10, Pumaris 10, Barro 6, Loresca 5, Cancillar 5, Lahora 0.

Caloocan 71 – A. Garcia 17, Tsutsui 16, R. Garcia 13, Napenas 12, Molina 8, Montanas 2, Senedo 2, Masayo 2.

Quarterscores: 17-25, 36-35, 58-52, 75-71.