The green-and-white cagers hit the court at the Cuneta Astrodome last April 4 during the National Capital Region Athletic Association’s (NCRAA) inauguration, marking the 31st season of the event under the banner: “Where Champions Are Born.”

Though the day’s exhibition matches were friendly, the crowd still roared to life as the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) Patriots faced off against the University of Luzon (UL) Golden Tigers. With over 8,000 spectators packing the venue, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch as the best of the best battled it out on the court.

For the Patriots, the first quarter looked grim as the Tigers took an overwhelming lead, dominating ball control in a tight, controlled offense. UL dribbled circles around DLSU-D, ending the quarter with a daunting 20–9 advantage.

But the Lasallian bets refused to be outdone, fighting tooth and nail with an adjusted strategy that kept the ball in the air, relying on swift maneuvering between the point guard and small forward. By the end of the second quarter, the Patriots clawed their way back, narrowly trailing the Tigers’ lead, 35–33.

The third quarter turned the tide as the Patriots deployed an aggressive offensive, with shooting guard and sharp small forwards delivering a series of devastating three-point blows against the Tigers, ending the quarter with a commanding 63–50 lead.

UL’s hopes of a comeback were soon dashed in the fourth quarter as DLSU-D hammered the gold-and-black team with vicious steals and punishing blocks. The barrage of three-pointers continued as the Patriots secured every corner, closing the game with a decisive 84–68 victory.

This set the tone for what would become a dominant season for the senior men’s cagers, who boasted a 4–2 record and a .75 win rate tied at the top of the leaderboard with Immaculada Concepcion College’s (ICC) Blue Hawks as they went into the quarterfinals on June 3.

In the Women’s Division, the Lady Patriots have been a force to be reckoned with. As of May 17, they hold a spotless 4–0 record and a perfect 1.0 win percentage, sitting confidently atop the standings with less than a month before championships, setting the bar for excellence high this NCRAA season.

Beyond the court, each NCRAA bout continues to test the limits of DLSU-D athletes across basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, chess, swimming, and badminton. This season also introduced new developments to the league, with NCRAA Director Manuel “Buddy” Encarnado introducing new regulations, including a four-point referee substitution system aimed at promoting transparency throughout the tournament.

Encarnado stressed the importance of NCRAA’s role in developing homegrown athletes, providing them a platform to excel in national and international arenas, and taking the Philippine sports scene to the next level.

Originally published in Heraldo Filipino Volume 39, Issue 2