A storm is brewing at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Fil-Am Nation Select-USA is heading back to the championship round of the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM Supermalls — and waiting for them is a fiery foe in Phenom Bluefire-Pasay, setting the stage for a showdown fueled by years of bad blood.
This heated rivalry dates back two years, when social media posts sparked tension between the two teams.
What began as an online dispute has now escalated to the national stage, with the championship on the line.
The animosity is real, and it’s all about to play out on the biggest stage in grassroots basketball.
Fil-Am Nation secured their spot in the title game with an 85–73 victory over National University-Nazareth School on Friday evening.
Leading the charge was Angelino Mark, who continued to build his Most Outstanding Player case with 26 points and nine rebounds.
With the Bullpups hanging around and keeping the pressure on in the third quarter, Mark delivered 11 crucial points in the final frame to seal the win.
Caelum Harris also contributed a stellar 19-point, 10-rebound double-double to help Fil-Am Nation stay on course in their quest for back-to-back titles in this grassroots tournament, also supported by MNL Kingpin, Molten, Pocari Sweat, Burlington, Swish, and Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, now has them on the verge of making history.
But the main event lies ahead.
Fil-Am Nation will face Phenom Bluefire, who also punched their ticket to the final with a dominant 89–72 victory over newly crowned UAAP champion UST-Manila.
Phenom Bluefire, powered by De La Salle Zobel aces Bonn Daja and Kieffer Alas, broke open a tight game with a 26-point third quarter.
Daja finished with a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Alas knocked down six three-pointers to finish with 20 points.
Matthew Jucom contributed with six points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and three assists, rounding out a balanced attack that made Phenom Bluefire the first wildcard team to reach the final.
But it’s the showdown with Fil-Am Nation that everyone has been waiting for.
For UST, Charles Bucsit led the scoring with 18 points, while Koji Buenaflor posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double in the defeat.
NUNS, eliminated by the Fil-Ams for the second year in a row, was led by Migs Palanca’s 21 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks.
Thomas Pillado and Mac Alfanta added 16 and 12 points, respectively, in the tough loss.
Now, with the championship on the line, Fil-Am Nation and Phenom Bluefire will settle their grudge in a high-stakes, no-holds-barred battle.
