IMMACULADA Concepcion College remains the favorite in the men’s basketball tournament of the National Capital and Regional Athletic Association set to kick off its 31st season this April.
The Blue Hawks are gunning for their third straight championship after retaining the title last year behind a close 65-62 win over De La Salle University-Dasmarinas in the deciding Game 3 of the finals.
“For this season, the team to beat is still ICC, the defending, back-to-back champion,” said NCRAA President Gerry Sergio of La Salle-Dasmarinas. “But all teams this 31st season are all competitive which assures a balanced competition.”
Sergio showed up with long-time NCRAA General Manager Buddy Encarnado in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum yesterday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex together with other officials of the collegiate league, namely, Joseph Ortega (secretary) of the Philippine Merchant Marine School, Engr. Ted Cada (treasurer) of Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, and Benjamin Hernandez (auditor) of host school PATTS College of Aeronautics.
“I think two is enough,” added the La Salle official with a smile, echoing the intent of the rest of the field to prevent ICC from scoring a three-peat.
Other participating schools are Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna, University of Luzon, Olivarez College, Bestlink College of the Philippines, and Integrated School.
Former players of the NCRAA such as brothers Ranidel and Yancy De Ocampo, Vic Manuel, and Gary David have been invited to grace the opener tentatively set for the first week of April at a venue still to be named.
“This is our small way of contributing to the national effort, particularly to the Gilas Pilipinas program. So a little league like the NCRAA is doing its best,” stressed Encarnado, the former PBA board chairman and team manager of Sta. Lucia during the program backed by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, Milo, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
