SHS-Ateneo wins in NBTC National semis

CEBU, Philippines – The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu thumped San Beda-B, 76-51 yesterday, to inch closer to a seat in the championship at the start of the semifinal round of the Seaoil-National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) 2015 National Finals at the Ynares Gym in Pasig.

This came after San Beda-B registered the upset of the tournament earlier in the day when they nipped defending champions Chiang Kai Shek College, 76-75.

The Magis Eagles jumped to a 22-9 lead after the first quarter with defensive specialist Joseph Mayol waxing hot with three triples. He had 13 of his 16 points in the first half alone. After SHS-Ateneo took a 42-22 halftime lead, San Beda-B rallied to cut the lead to 58-42 at the end of three quarters.

The Magis Eagles, aware that they needed a big win, came alive in the payoff period, building as big as a 22-point lead to put the Red Cubs away. Pio Longa had 16 points and eight rebounds while Steven Co, Nino Araw-araw and Jeremy Nacua had seven points apiece.

The win puts the team in a good position to make it to the championship for the first time in school history. They were set to play defending national champion Chiang Kai Shek College last night.

A win assures the Cebu champions a seat in the championship game while a loss creates a three-way tie among the three teams in the semifinal group. CKSC needs to defeat the Magis Eagles by 14 points to steal the championship berth from the group, while San Beda-B kissed its championship chances goodbye.

In the other semifinal bracket, favorites National University and San Beda-A each picked up easy wins over Cavite’s Lyceum, 86-53, and 90-73, respectively, to arrange a do-or-die for the second final berth.

The championship game will be played today at the Meralco Gym after the annual Seaoil-NBTC All-Star game. (FREEMAN)