LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — For the first time in nine years, powerhouse National Capital Region (NCR) fell short of advancing to the secondary boys basketball finals of the 65th Palarong Pambansa.

NCR, backed by National University-Nazareth School, surrendered the throne after a shocking fall to gritty Western Visayas, 67-76, in the quarterfinal here at the Ilocos Norte Convention Center.

Represented by St. Robert’s International Academy of Iloilo, the Region 6 ballers dealt NCR a viscous blow as the city boys relived the nightmare of the 2016 edition of the Palaro in Legazpi, Albay.

Since then, NCR appeared in six straight finals from 2017 to 2024 and has won four out of five championships in the secondary boys division.

The capital region’s lone loss in that stretch was in the 2023 Marikina City edition when Central Visayas, led by current Ateneo de Manila University star Jared Bahay, defeated NCR, 73-77, in the final.

A new champion is set to be named on Friday at 8 p.m.

As of writing, Western Visayas and CALABARZON are competing in the semifinal while Davao Region and last year’s runner-up Central Luzon are squaring off in the other pairing.

IVAN SUING