Ateneo, La Salle enter SBP semis

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Ateneo de Manila and archrival La Salle Greenhills A trounced their quarterfinals rivals to lead the semifinals cast of the Small Basketeers Philippines tournament recently at the Xavier School gym.

Ateneo routed Don Bosco Technical School, 81-31, to claim its third consecutive triumph in Group A and forge a semifinals clash with Notre Dame of Greater Manila, which trimmed Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, 41-38, also for its third straight win.

La Salle, meanwhile, inched closer to another finals clash with Ateneo by beating Marist School, 79-42, to arrange a semifinals clash with host Xavier School, which rapped Lourdes School of Quezon City, 72-11. La Salle and Xavier are also undefeated in three games.

Semifinal games will be held tomorrow.

Passerelle matches saw Antipolo Lourdes School over Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, 61-34; Marist School over San Benildo Integrated School, 69-60; Xavier over Lourdes-QC, 79-44; La Salle Greenhills B over Don Bosco Technical College, 59-30; La Salle Greenhills A over Malate Catholic School, 20-0; and San Beda over Sta. Clara International Academy, 67-8.