Caloocan makes Hoopla Inter-Zonal round

Caloocan, with Arjhay Napenas firing 24 points and Rodel Garcia adding 14, ousted Valenzuela, 77-70, in their knockout match to join three other cities in the five-team Inter-Zonal round of the 2nd Coca-Cola Hoopla National Capital Region Championship late Sunday night. Valenzuela forced the rubber match after beating Caloocan, 77-66, Saturday. But there was no denying the top team of the North Zone this time as it advanced to the two-round Inter-Zonal after Quezon City (East), Mandaluyong (Central) and Antipolo (West), with action reeling off May 29. Only the South Zone remains without a winner as four of the five teams in contention remain in a fierce battle for the top spot. Pasay, which forfeited its first-round game against Las Piñas, rolled back defending champion Muntinlupa, 99-86, to recover lost ground and climb back to 5-3, the same slate held by its opponent at the penultimate day of the Inter-City competition. Harold Lomtong and Gio Ramos combined for 52 points for Pasay. Taguig, on the other hand, crushed Paranaque, 69-40, to lead the hunt with its fifth win in seven games. Joshua Mayor had 10 points and Christian Barro added nine to pace Taguig in the highly-defensive match. - RCJ, GMA News