Games Thursday (Olivarez College Coliseum)
10 a.m. – DLSU-Dasmariñas vs PATTS
11:30 a.m. – RTU vs PSBA
1 p.m. – EAC-Cavite vs Olivarez College
2:30 p.m. – TIP vs CSM
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Merchant Marine School used a sleek running game and relied on a cat-quick Nigerian point guard to stun titleholder Olivarez College, 84-74, at the start of the 18th National Capital Region Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Olivarez College Coliseum in Sucat, Parañaque recently.
Cebuano shooter Elmar Moradas fired a game-high 34 points, including 16 in the last quarter as the Mariners surprised the defending champions right on their turf in the big start in the nine-school cagefest backed by Molten and Mikasa.
The Colegio de Sta. Monica Cougars, with Jessie Saitanan scoring 13 points, prevailed over the La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots, 72-57, to tie the Mariners in the early lead.
Moradas, Nigerian rookie Danny Masso and Roger Malig-On combined in a decisive 18-7 run, enabling the Mariners to pull away for good.
“Our opening game was fine, especially our running game. But the boys kind of relaxed towards the end,” said Mariners coach Aldrin Morante.
The Mariners seek their second straight win when they play the Philippine School of Business Administration Jaguars at 10 a.m. on Monday at the Rizal Technological University gym.
Malig-On made 13 points for the Sea Lions, while Masso and Dondon Reverente had 12 points apiece.
The Mariners forced the Sea Lions to three turnovers and held their rivals to three points in the first quarter. They built a 25-10 lead in the second then pounced on the erratic Sea Lions to post leads of as many as 17 points.
Sea Lions veteran cager Philip de la Cruz led Olivarez College with 23 points, while Lester Reyes and Erwin Encela had 13 and 11 points, respectively.