TOP seed Olivarez College battles defending champion Immaculada Concepcion College, while No. 2 seed Asian Institute of Maritimes Studies meets No. 3 seed De La Salle University- Dasmarinas in a pair of exciting knockout semifinal matches in the 30th NCRAA (National Capital Region Athletic Association) basketball tournament at the Olivarez gym in Parañaque City.

All four teams, which enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round, safely made it next round with convincing victories over their respective opponents.

The Karlos Lapira-led Blue Sharks defeated PATTS College of Aeronautics, 84-63, while the Gio Santiago-bannered Patriots needed a strong finish to eliminate the Philippine Merchant Marine School, 68-61, last Friday.

The Sea Lions and the Blue Hawks dispatched the University of Luzon (90-69), and St.Dominic College of Asia (72-52), respectively, to arrange their own semifinal duel.

Interestingly, the 3:30 p.m. Olivarez College-Immaculada Concepcion College showdown will be a virtual rematch.

The two teams also battled in last year’s 29th NCRAA championship with the Blue Hawks capturing the crown against the Sea Lions.

This season, the Blue Hawks defeated the Sea Lions, 80-74, last April. 15 while the Blue Sharks escaped with 86-82 victory over the Patriots last March 11.

In the other semifinal matches, ICC will face Bestlink College of the Philippines at 12:30 p.m., while Lyceum of the Philippines University-Laguna will go head-to-head against Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite at 11 a.m. in the junior’s division.

In the women’s division, No. 1 seed DLSU-Dasma will face No. 4 seed EAC- Cavite at 9:30 a.m., while No. 2 seed Centro Escolar University will compete against No. 3 seed PMMS at 8 a.m.

Games Wednesday:

(Olivarez gym)
8 a.m.– CEU vs. PMMS (W)
9:30 a.m.– DLSU-D vs. EAC-C (W)
11 a.m.– LPU-L vs. EAC-C (J)
12:30 p.m.– Bestlink vs. ICC (J)
2 p.m. –DLSU-D vs. AIMS (S)
3:30 p.m.– ICC vs. OC (S)

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya