CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Kai Sotto, Carl Tamayo, and Harvey Pagsanjan led their respective squads to the Sweet 16 of the 2018 Exped SM-NBTC National Finals as the top seeds dispatched their foes on Monday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The 15-year-old Sotto continued to dominate for the Blue Eaglets as he unloaded 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks for the UAAP Season 80 champions in a 98-47 thrashing of New Ormoc City High School.
Ateneo will move on to the next round against 16th seed AusPinoy, who trumped Assumption Montessori of Cagayan de Oro, 86-79.
Tamayo, meanwhile, impressed in his debut as the rookie led the National University Bullpups with 18 points and eight rebounds in their 81-63 mauling of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
Pagsanjan went berserk anew for Hope Christian High School, going for 35 points on 13-of-26 shooting as it overcame a 15-point deficit to take an 84-77 win over St. Benilde International School of Calamba.
Aside from the three, there were also a handful of standouts in the action-packed day where 16 games were held across the MOA Arena, Cuneta Astrodome, and Palm Coast Marina.
NCAA titlist La Salle Greenhills took down Jesus the Loving Shepherd of Naga, 85-46.
Three-seed Chiang Kai Shek College hardly broke a sweat in its 68-44 decision over St. Columban College of Pagadian.
CESAFI kings University of Visayas routed University of Luzon of Dagupan, 100-73, while San Beda waylaid St. Louis-Don Bosco of Dumaguete by 65 points, 105-40.
Jalen Green’s 26 points and seven rebounds carried Filam Sports to a comfortable 92-59 conquest of La Salle-Lipa.
Durham Crossover of Canada clipped University of Baguio, 80-75.
Camp David of New Zealand was the lone international casualty as the sole higher-ranked team to lose to a lower-seed, falling to Lyceum-Cavite, 85-59.
Completing those who advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, to be played on Tuesday, are No. 6 Mapua, No. 8 Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu, No. 10 San Sebastian, No. 12 Adamson, and No. 14 Letran.
First round losers, meanwhile, will still be competing in the Division 2.