HOST Cagayan de Oro Athletic Association (COAA) captured the secondary and elementary boys basketball titles in the 2017 Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) Meet, which ended in Cagayan de Oro City on December 16.
COAA claimed the titles at the expense of Bukidnon, which also made a surprising entry to the finals in both the elementary and secondary divisions.
The COAA’s secondary team, heavily anchored by Assumption Montessori School (AMS) boys of coach James Racines, outlasted the Bukidnon Gallopers, 84-79, for the crown.
COOA’s elementary team, mostly composed by St. Mary’s School Fiats of coach Rene Ilogon, downed the baby Gallopers, 64-59 in the elementary boys final.
Breezing through the elimination round with relative ease, the AMS Jaguars found the Bukidnon side a tough customer in the championship round.
rThis, as the Gallopers applied tremendous pressure on COAA, even leading by three, 43-40 at the half.
But the host team retaliated in the final half beginning with a 10-point spread to the set the tone for the reversal of fortune.
rThe wards of Ilogon also booked a trip to the prestigious Palarong Pambansa to be held in Vigan next year after edging the baby Gallopers.
This will be Ilogon’s second Palarong Pambansa appearance after his first in 2014 held in Laguna.
In distaff rivalry, the Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS) lady Cavaliers earned the right to represent NMRAA secondary girls after defeating Valencia.