THE best performing team in the elimination round, frontrunning Team Romuls became the biggest casualty as Team Abamin and Team RJ took different routes to advance first in the semifinal round of the NMR-IV Eagles basketball tournament.
Team Gabe and Team Doc Neri were still battling, as of Thursday night, July 17, at the Southern Philippine College (SPC) covered court, against Team Candia and Team Jagger to complete the big 4 round of the Eagles hoopfest dubbed as “1st NMR-IV Governor Luiben Magto Cup.”
Without sweating it out, Team Abamin made it to the semifinals as Team Romuls -- powered by Robert Sobiono, LJ Aquino, Mart Mutya and Nofrance Solidum -- was forfeited after showing up with only six players available.
“Sila ang top-seed pero unsaon ta man nga ato naman gipahibalo ang tanan nga teams before sa top-8 round nga at least 7 players sa linya ang puwede makadula,” said tournament commissioner Gary Mejos.
Mejos’ Team Michael barely beat the “additional rules” of the league. But without big men in their roster, they got bludgeoned by Kuya RJ Yacapin’s Team Nobles Seafood and Grill by 14 points, 71-85 at the Nazareth gym.
Maher Eduave, Naknak del Castillo and Tarotoy Remoto scored 23, 20 and 19 points each to lead Team Nobles in eliminating Team Michael which got 21 and 19 markers each from Mejos and Richard Aycardo.
Team Nobles coach Yogi Hembrador said they expect the “no show” Jun Daanoy and Macmac Labares to reinforce their title bid.
“Kon makadula ‘ning duha bisan kinsa among makontra sa semis ug finals mora’g alam na,” Hembrador said.