Spitfire guard MJ Homo set the tone while Edmund de la Cruz provided the stability upfront as Olivarez College outplayed the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, 100-80, in the 29th National Capital Region Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Olivarez Gym in Parañaque.
Homo finished with 15 points to lead the Sealions to their fourth straight win to grab the solo lead in the league’s new season headed by long-time basketball executive Buddy Encarnado, now the league’s general manager, with Segundo “Bong” de la Cruz as commissioner.
De la Cruz ended up with 14 points and nine boards to lead Olivarez’s onslaught at the shaded lanes. The Sealions produced 74 points inside the paint, 44 points more than their rivals.
“We really prepared hard in this game because of the lapses we had in our previous game,” the 6-foot-4 De la Cruz said.
Joshua Gallano also dominated inside with a double-double performance of 10 points and 14 rebounds.
Hanz Maycong added 10 for the Sealions, who also outran the Radicals and produced more fast break points, 28-15.
Also winning were Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite, defending champion Centro Escolar University and La Salle-Dasmariñas, which debuted with a victory in the women’s competition.
The Vanguards outlasted Lyceum-Laguna, 79-74, as Kenneth Adiao led the way with 19 points while JR Illustrations added 17 markers.
Voshon Calipco contributed 14 and Aries Rdrin tallied 12 for the Vanguards, who dealt the Pirates their third loss in as many games to drop at the cellar.
CEU banked on cerebral guard Franz Diaz, the only remnant of its 2019 champion team.
Diaz pumped in 21 points to go along with seven assists and four rebounds.
Meanwhile, La Salle-Dasmariñas dominated Philippine Merchant Marine School, 81-64, in women’s basketball action.
Eula Atienza tallied 23 points while Jonalyn Bongalos and Angelika Armillo scored 10 apiece for the Lady Patriots.