The National Capital Region (NCR) are your #PalarongPambansa2024 secondary boys basketball champion!

NCR’s NU Nazareth School is bringing the Palaro secondary boys basketball trophy back to Manila after a triumphant run at the 2024 Palarong Pambansa, beating Central Luzon’s St. Agustine Institute of Pampanga in the finals, 86-71, on Monday at the University of San Carlos in Cebu. 

“Pinagtrabuhan namin ‘tong game na ito. Sabi nila Coach, every game need namin trabahuhin– ginawa namin yon. Sobrang saya na na-reclaim namin yung championship para sa NCR,” said point guard Lebon Jake Manding, who served as the team’s effective court general from start to finish.

Central Luzon led in the early goings of the first half, even carrying a three point lead, 16-13, entering the second frame.

Things got chippy at the 7:13 mark of the second quarter when a heated scuffle broke out after a rebound play that saw some pushing and shoving between players. 

Cooler heads eventually prevailed after a momentary pause in the game, where four unsportamsnlike fouls were assessed and handed by the game officials. 

The altercation resulted into four ejections, including NU Nazareth team captain Alnhumaeri Usop.

“Sabi ko lang naman, wag nilang patulan. Let’s face it, we are really stronger than them. Ang dami kong nawalang player– si Celis, si Casala napilitan na lang, tapos na-thrown out pa si Usop,” explained NCR head coach Leo Pujante in an interview with GMA Regional TV News.

NCR battled back in the latter part of the second canto and ended the half with a four-point lead, 40-36.

The final two quarters were majestic for the eventual champions, as they seemed more comfortable on the floor and had better executions from both ends. They never looked back until the final buzzer, and even held a demoralizing 20-point lead at some point in the third.

“Nag-adjust lang po kami sa second half, hindi ko po inisip yung points ko nung first half kasi masyado akong gigil, masyado akong naging tight,” said Palaro secondary boys basketball Most Valuable Player Timothy Roje Matias.

“Nag-bounce back ako nung second half, bumawi ako. Nung nangyare kanina, kinalimutan nalang namin yun. Kasi kung hindi, magiging tight kami hanggang huli. Nagmove-on kami, kumbaga nagfocus lang talaga kami para makuha yung kampyonato,” noted the MVP.

The victory in the secondary boys basketball at the #PalarongPambansa2024 is a welcome sight for NCR, who settled for a maiden finish in the 2023 national games after losing the crown to the then Jared Bahay-led Central Visayas.

(With field reports from Ian Zane T. Esparaga/GMA Regional TV News)