THE NMR-IV Eagles basketball, with some of the top local players in its fold, will enter the playoff round for the top-eight surviving teams Wednesday night, July 17, at the Nazareth gym, Cagayan de Oro City.

Commercial cagers such as Bodie Tamparong, Ranran Bantawig, Jun Daanoy, Boning Biongcog, and Janjan Babiera were lured in to beef up the eleven participating teams including those from other region clubs of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Northern Mindanao.

Some of them made it to the final eight round, but majority of the so-called “marquee names” apparently got the exit door.

“Ang teamwork pa gihapon ang ni-click as shown by the results of the elimination round,” one NMR-IV dribbler said.

Tournament commissioner Gary Mejos said the knockout matches will also utilize the Southern Philippine College (SPC) covered court on the following night.

Wednesday’s tussles start at 6:30 p.m., pitting Team Romuls against Team Abamin and Team RJ versus Team Michael.

On Thursday, Team Gabe will lock horns with Team Candia, followed by Team Doc Neri’s duke-out with Team Jagger.

“Naa lang tay additional rules for the second round. Six players only forfeit na automatic, 7 players only 8 freethrows for the opposing team, 8 players 6 FTs, 9 players 4 FTs, 10 players no FTs. No registration fee kulang damay ang team,” added Mejos.