FLASHING its vaunted might, Extreme 97 San Beda rolled past two provincial teams yesterday to grab the early lead in the Seaoil NBTC National High School Championship.
Former national youth team members Radge Tongco and Rev Diputado starred as San Beda routed NLEX Tarlac, 94-31, at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, before plunging into action again hours later at the nearby Philsports Arena where the Red Cubs dumped Philex Zamboanga, 131-51.
Tongco topscored with 12 along with Niko Abatayo against Tarlac, then dropped another 16 points as Diputado also fired 15 markers versus Zamboanga.
Smart Iloilo, though, pulled off an early upset with a 65-60 triumph over Extreme Diesel National University.
Paul Calvo unloaded 31 points as the Iloilo squad rallied from a 27-35 halftime deficit against an NU side bannered by another former youth team standout in Hubert Cani.
Mako Hope Christian High School—which bagged the Metro Manila Tiong Lian title the night before—sustained their winning form with John Apacible and Clint Dominquez teaming up for 42 points in their 96-83 victory over Smart Bacolod.
Philex Cagayan de Oro kicked off its campaign with a 109-94 tripping of Smart Legazpi behind Jio Carlo Agusan’s 34-point outing.
John Ray Dalagan added 18 markers and Jed Brent Baltazar also shot 16 for Cagayan de Oro.
Maynilad Cebu cruised past Meralco Cavite, 99-28, while Meralco Lucena nipped NLEX Dagupan, 76-73.
Also vying for semifinal slots are Philex Cagayan de Oro, NLEX La Union and 4T Power Faith Academy.