MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Muntinlupa overpowered Parañaque at the latter’s turf at Area I, posting a 98-71 romp at the start of the Inter-City phase of the second Coca-Cola Hoopla National Capital Region Championship last Monday.
Karl Salvador fired 18 points and Kevin Buenaflor added 15 markers as Muntinlupa took control early, 40-27, and kept a big 66-48 lead entering the fourth quarter en route to the win.
Over in Binangonan, Russell Maybituin emerged the star of the night as he sank a 50-foot heave from the backcourt to lift the hosts to a thrilling 81-80 overtime victory over Taytay.
At the Navotas Sports Complex, Jake Pong Dayao unloaded 23 points as the home team routed Caloocan, 91-77.
Caloocan trailed, 62-69, with 5:20 remaining in the game but came through with an 8-0 spurt to seize the lead, 70-69. Urged on by the chanting crowd, however, the hosts recovered and countered with a 22-7 finishing run to wrest back the lead and notch the victory.
In Quezon City, Jon Bukirin and Alvin de Leon each had 20 points as Quezon City demolished Paters, 129-88, while Charlie Bolano erupted for 38 points and Arvin Tolentino added 20 as Pasig stunned Marikina and its followers, 105-101.
Other matches saw Malabon, with Elvin Chan exploding for 47 points, rally from 11 points down in the first quarter to beat Valenzuela, 90-76, in Malabon; Pasay, with Pascual Aquino and Louie Lidardo combining for 43 points, trip Las Piñas at the Pasay Sports Complex.
; and Mandaluyong shock Makati in overtime, 97-95, as Rafael Rebugio topscored with 28 points and Lenmark Cerbito added 19.