Davao, Western Visayas battle for Palaro basketball gold as NCR suffers shock exit

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Davao and Western Visayas pull off respective comeback victories in the semifinals as they face off for the 2025 Palarong Pambansa secondary boys' basketball crown

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines – A new secondary boys’ basketball champion will be crowned in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.

That is after defending champion National Capital Region suffered a shock exit as Davao and Western Visayas arranged a date for the crown following respective comeback wins in the semifinals at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City here on Thursday, May 29.

NCR got the boot in the quarterfinals after a surprise 76-67 loss to Western Visayas, marking the first time the Metro Stars failed to reach the championship game since 2016.

Western Visayas pulled off another stunner in the final four, taking down Andrei Ugaddan and Calabarzon in a come-from-behind 80-73 victory.

Trailing 21-38 at one point, the boys from Iloilo rode on a 21-12 run to enter the break trailing by only single digits, 42-50, before fully taking control in the second half.

Meanwhile, Davao took down one of the favorites as it eliminated Central Luzon — the runner-up last year — by erasing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter en route to a pulsating 66-65 victory.

Despite a couple of turnovers in the endgame, Davao held on as Central Luzon star Kenji Morales suffered from cramps with under a minute remaining and failed to return.

The final is scheduled at 8 am on Friday, May 30, at the same venue. – Rappler.com