Garcia, a member of the Ateneo de Manila football squad, struck in the eighth, 39th, 70th, 82nd and 87th minutes to propel NCR to its second win in three games in the five-team tourney organized by the Philippine Football Federation and sponsored by Coca-Cola Export.
Kurt Alvarez and Jose Asuncion supported Garcia with two and three markers, respectively. The other NCR goal came from Samuel Wilson.
Albay-Legazpi’s Pag-asa National High blanked Camarines Norte’s Vinzons Pilot School, 5-0, in the other match.
Arjay Llamelo starred for Albay-Legazpi by scoring in the 51st, 77th and 88th minutes.
Competition continues this morning at the Philsports turf. It will be Masbate, frontrunner at 2-0, against Camarines Norte at 8 a.m. and Rizal against Albay-Legazpi at 10 a.m.
The top team after one round will win the title and gain automatic entry into the national finals together with the runner-up squad.
The top two teams from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will dispute the national title on Feb. 6-10 in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.