Kristian Porter of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. –NBTC PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—After losing their Super 24 seeding match on the first day of the Smart-NBTC National Finals, Ateneo turned things around by punching its ticket in Division 2’s Fearless Four at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.
The Blue Eagles defeated Doc Boleros-Camanava NCR, 74-65, behind the star tandem of Kristian Porter and LeBron Nieto.
Porter finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals while Nieto followed up from his 31-piece with 12 points, six steals, two assists and two rebounds for Ateneo. They will be facing Team Tarlac in the quarterfinals.
Tarlac secured an affair with the Blue Eagles after trouncing Saint Benilde International School-Laguna, 78-60, behind Earl Sapasap’s star-making performance.
Sapasap was a rebound shy of a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds, four dimes and four steals.
Roby Gesultura and Russell Liwanag helped Tarlac’s cause with 13 and 11, respectively.
Don Bosco-Dumaguete, on the other hand, buried Rome Elite, 95-58, thanks to CJ Umali’s performance.
Umali finished with 23 markers, four dimes and three steals. Matthew James Jucom helped the cause with 18 to his name.
Homegrown Australia will be Don Bosco’s dance partner in the quarters after squeaking past Philippine Christian University-Cavite, 75-72.
Joaquin Rillo finished with 16 markers built on two triples while also getting two steals on the defensive end.
DIVISION 1 RESULTS
Over at Division 1, University of Santo Tomas won a heartbreaker against Toronto Canada, 66-65, to join the pool’s Fearless Four.
Charles Bucsit served as the X-Factor for the Tiger Cubs, finishing with 16 points, despite 10 of said markers coming by way of free throws. He also snagged nine rebounds in the process.
Ateneo’s Jared Bahay. –NBTC PHOTO
SHS-Ateneo Cebu Landmasters, on the other hand, shocked Mapua, 90-75, behind top-ranked high school player Jared Bahay’s outing.
Bahay finished with 31 big points, sinking eight triples in the process. He also dropped three dimes to power Ateneo Cebu to the quarters.
FilNation Select-USA, meanwhile, defeated Batang Tiaong, 91-79.
Much like Bahay, Jason Mandaquit Jr. finished the game with 31 markers. Mandaquit jr., however, had a huge impact on defense, garnering eight steals in the victory.
John Mowell Morales’s near double-double of 18 markers and nine rebounds was not enough to push Batang Tiaong to the quarters.