Blue Hawks draw first blood vs Patriots, zero in on NCRAA crown

By Robert Andaya

The results:

Game 1— ICC 97, DLSU-D 87

Defending champions Immaculada Concepcion College (ICC) brought down De La Salle University-Dasmariñas,97-87, to  move a win way from a rare three-peat  in the 31st season of the NCRAA basketball tournament at the CSJDM Sports Complex in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Six players scored in double figures for the Caloocan City-based Blue Hawks of coach Ogie Gumatay, with Alfred Flores leading the charge.

Flores finished with 23 points on an efficient 10-of-15 shooting, along with six assists, four rebounds, and three steals in 32 minutes of play.

Jared Vento added 16 points, while Joshua Bulante chipped in 13 points and four rebounds.

Tutoy Ramirez notched another impressive triple-double with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists while Felix Corpuz contributed 12 points and four rebounds, and Aljin Gadin added 11 points, three assists, and two rebounds.

Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series will take place at the Bacoor Strike Gym in Cavite City at 11:30 a.m.on Sunday, with the Blue Hawks hoping to finish off the Patriots and complete a three-peat.

Gio Santiago led the way for the DLSU-D Patriots for coach Tito Reyes, scoring 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting, along with three rebounds in 31 minutes.

Rogelio Calagos recorded a double-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and three steals, while Ronroy Bunda added 12 points.

Joriel Nicandro and Billy Dela Rama chipped in 10 and  nine points, respectively.

The Blue Hawks outperformed the Patriots on the boards, 42-33, and in assists, 32-20.