CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
SHS-Ateneo de Cebu busted all brackets in the 2018 Exped SM-National Basketball Training Center National Finals after toppling number one seed Ateneo de Manila, 72-70, Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Errol Pastor spearheaded the telling 18-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters before Wilson Yu and the rest of the Magis Eagles fended off the newly-minted UAAP champion Blue Eaglets in a wire-to-wire win.
Pastor scored 21 points on top of eight rebounds and two assists while Yu contributed 18 markers and six boards.
“We just told them to stay composed. We wanted to make most of the opportunity since we’re already here,” said coach Francis Auquico.
Pastor, a post player by trade, also showcased the shooting he has been working on and hit 3-of-4 attempts from deep.
Two of those came in the 18-0 blast that turned a one-point margin late in the third into a 68-51 lead with under seven minutes remaining.
Ateneo did not quit just yet as SJ Belangel and Jason Credo pulled them to within two points with 17.5 seconds left, only to see the Cebuanos turn up the heat on defense to put the game away for good.
In all, SHS-Ateneo made good on 10-of-23 shots from deep. “I just told them to shoot it when they’re open because we were having a hard time inside. Kai is really tall,” said Auquico.
The Magis Eagles advance to the Final Four and will next take on National University, which earlier survived a history-making 51 point-outing from Jalen Green to take the 98-92 victory over Filam Sports.
Green’s outburst was the most a player has scored in the 11-year history of the league, but that was overcome by clutch makes from Rhayyan Amsali and Terrence Fortea.
Amsali posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double while Fortea scored 24 points and the two connived for the pivotal 8-0 push that broke a score of 84-all and built a 92-84 advantage in favor of NU.
Green took charge from that point and kept the Filipino-Americans battling, but the Bullpups had an answer all throughout. “It was a good thing our defense picked up in the second half, and so did Terrence,” said a beaming head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
The other pairing will then see a showdown between NCAA champion La Salle Greenhills and Metro Manila Basketball League titlist Chiang Kai Shek.
The Greenies punched their ticket after rallying by San Beda, 69-64, behind Inand Fornilos’ 17-point, 11-rebound double-double and Joel Cagulangan’s all-around line of 14 points, eight assists, five steals, and three rebounds.
Challenging them in the semifinals will be the Blue Dragons who scorched Mapua, 86-67, on the back of John Galinato’s 22 points.
Meanwhile, NBTC Division 2 will see Final Four battles between La Salle Lipa and St. Benilde International School Calamba as well as Letran Bataan and St. Louis-Don Bosco Dumaguete.
The Chevrons of Lipa made their way there after edging out Bacolod Tay Tung, 69-63, while Laguna’s St. Benilde set up a matchup with them by dethroning 2017 champion Assumption Montessori Cagayan de Oro, 76-62.
In the opposite bracket, Balanga’s Knights and the St. Louis-Don Bosco of Negros paired up in downing Assumption Davao, 78-73, and Jesus the Loving Shepherd Naga, 83-78, respectively.
The Scores:
First Game:
CHIANG KAI SHEK 86 – Galinato 22, Asuncion 19, Antiporda 18, Celis 12, Luciano 5, Agbong 4, Lim 4, Banez 2, Flores 0, Ramirez 0, Tolentino 0, Aying 0, Beltran 0.
MAPUA 67 – Jabel 14, Arches 13, Escamis 12, Sarias 8, Bonifacio 8, Smith 6, Dennison 3, Samontesa 3, Romano 0, Licardo 0, Castor 0, Marzan 0.
Quarters: 10-12, 42-34, 70-52, 86-67.
Second Game:
NU 98 – Fortea 24, Amsali 17, Oczon 16, Quiambao 13, Abadiano 8, Tamayo 8, Minerva 7, Manalang 3, Gonzales 2, Javillonar 0, Malonzo 0, Coyoca 0, Puray 0.
FILAM SPORTS 92 – Green 51, Clark 17, Wilson 9, Jackson 6, Garcia 5, De Leon 3, Ayala 1, Sanderson 0.
Quarters: 19-26, 47-41, 66-67, 98-92.
Third Game:
LSGH 69 – Fornilos 17, Cagulangan 14, Marcos 11, Sangco 6, Lao 5, Espinosa 5, Mosqueda 4, Lepalam 4, Natividad 2, Cruz 1, Perez 0, Morales 0.
SAN BEDA 64 – Talampas 21, Oliva 17, Lazaro 7, Andrada 6, Calibo 5, Sanchez 4, Pelipel 3, Alcantara 1, Llarena 0, Estacio 0, Valencia 0, Competente 0.
Quarters: 16-16, 33-35, 49-56, 69-64.
Fourth Game:
SHS-ATENEO DE CEBU 72 – Pastor 21, W. Yu 18, Javelosa 8, Colonia 5, Manaytay 5, Diaz 5, Mantua 3, Nacua 3, Bersaluna 2, Visser 2, B. Yu 0, Chua 0.
ATENEO DE MANILA 70 – Sotto 19, Credo 12, Padrigao 11, Belangel 7, Berjay 5, David 4, Chiu 4, Diaz 4, Jaymalin 3, Santos 1, Escalona 0.
Quarters: 25-12, 34-32, 53-49, 72-70.