Black 4 earns crucial win in Coke Hoopla

MANILA, Philippines - Black 4 edged Bukid, 86-85, last Thursday in Manila to earn a crucial victory near the close of the Intra-City elimination of the second Coca-Coca Hoopla National Capital Region Championship.

The home-and-away Inter-City phase kicks off Monday with two explosive games each from the five competing zones.

East matches pit Quezon City with Pateros at 6 p.m. at the Libis Covered Court in Quezon City, and Pasig with Marikina at 7 p.m. at Concepcion Lino in Marikina.

North games have Caloocan battling Navotas at 6 p.m. at the Navotas Sports Complex, and Valenzuela facing Malabon at 7 p.m. at the Hulong Duhat Covered Court in Malabon.

Down South, Parañaque meets Muntinlupa at 4 p.m. at Area 1 in Parañaque, while Pasay clashes with Las Piñas at 6 p.m. at the Pasay Sports Complex.

Cainta tangles with Antipolo in West matches at 6 p.m. at San Roque in Cainta, while Binangonan takes on Taytay, also at 6 p.m., at Ynares Plaza in Binangonan.

Central games feature Makati against Mandaluyong at 2:15 p.m. at the Makati Coliseum, and Manila versus San Juan at Brgy 116 Zone 9 Covered Court in Manila.

The scramble to represent their respective localities Thursday likewise saw San Jose routing Bagong Nayon, 138-87, in Antipolo; Almanza Uno downing Daniel, 95-82, in Las Piñas; Yasco clubbing Southern Side, 84-62, in Muntinlupa; Batang Pasay shelling Pasay Warriors, 105-92, in Pasay City; Onse beating Salapan, 80-75, in San Juan; Libid ripping Lunsad, 93-62, in Binangonan; Dolores trashing San Isidro, 73-59, in Taytay; and Pinagbuhatan rapping Brgy. Kapasigan, 108-78, in Pasig.

A total cash prize of P500,000 is at stake in this grassroots-to-the-core project launched by JB Baylon, PBA Powerade Tigers governor and director for public affairs and communications of Coca-Cola Export Corp., with P250,000 going to the eventual NCR champion.