The madness in MOA claims Kai Sotto’s Blue Eaglets and Jalen Green’s squad
The Sacred Heart School Magis Eaglets busted all brackets in the 2018 Exped SM National Basketball Training Center National Finals after toppling number one seed Ateneo Blue Eaglets of Quezon City, Wednesday evening at the SM 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, 72-70.
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. Sayang naman nandito na kami tapos mawawala pa,” said coach Francis Auquico after his boys upset the top seed in the tournament.
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 slim one-point margin late in the third, into a 68-51 lead with under seven minutes remaining.
But 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 kasi mahihirapan kami sa loob; ang tangkad ni Kai e,” said Auquico.
The Blue Eaglets bow out of contention despite a 19-point, nine-rebound, and five-block effort from Sotto.
On the other hand, the Magis Eagles will next take on the National University in the NBTC Final Four on Thursday.
Earlier, top US high school sophomore Jalen Green dropped a history-making 51 points, but it still wasn’t enough to topple powerhouse National University of Manila.
Green’s outburst was the most a player has scored in the 11-year history of the league, but was overcome by clutch shot from Rhayyan Amsali and Terrence Fortea, as the Bullpups dropped FilAm Sports USA, 98-92.
Amsali posted a 17-point, 12-rebound double-doublem 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.
“Buti nag-pick up (yung defense) namin nung second half. Nag-pick up din si Terrence nung second half,” said a beaming head coach Goldwin Monteverde.
The other pairing will then see a showdown between NCAA champions La Salle Green Hills and Metro Manila Basketball League titlists 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.
First Game:
CKSC 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
MHS 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
Quarterscores: 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
Quarterscores: 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
SBC 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
Quarterscores: 16-16, 33-35, 49-56, 69-64
Fourth Game:
SHS 72 – Pastor 21, Yu W 18, Javelosa 8, Colonia 5, Manaytay 5, Diaz 5, Mantua 3, Nacua 3, Bersaluna 2, Visser 2, Yu B 0, Chua 0
ADMU 70 – Sotto 19, Credo 12, Padrigao 11, Belangel 7, Berjay 5, David 4, Chiu 4, Diaz 4, Jaymalin 3, Santos 1, Escalona 0
Quarterscores: 25-12, 34-32, 53-49, 72-70
