Red Cubs, Bullpups eliminate Cavite five

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning NCAA champion San Beda and this year’s UAAP runner-up National University each walloped Cavite, 90-73, and 86-53, yesterday to move one step closer to the finals in the eighth Seaoil-NBTC High School Championships at the Ynares Sports Arena yesterday.

Nico Abatayo led the Red Cubs, who beat the Mapua Red Robins last year to complete a historic six-peat, with 15 points. Marc Decapia, Evan Furaque and Marc Diputado chipped in 12, 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The troika of Allen Mina, Vincent Claveria and Ryan dela Cruz showed the way for the Bullpups  by combining for 38 points to likewise send the Jhocson-based dribblers to their first win in the single-round robin quarterfinals.

San Beda and NU, tied at Group A with a win apiece, were playing each other at press time for a seat in  the one-game finale set today at the same venue.

Cavite suffered its second straight defeat and was eliminated.

In Group B action, San Beda B went to Joshua Tagala in the fourth quarter as it pulled off a shock 76-75 victory over defending champion Chiang Kai Shek to move one step closer to the other finals spot.

Tagala sizzled for a game-high 23 points, including eight in the final canto when the Cubs fended off a late surge by Chiang Kai Shek.

Peter Alfaro, Germy Mahinay and Prince Etrata contributed 13, 11 and 11 points, respectively.

Chiang Kai Shek, which was hoping to defend the title it won over fancied teams last year, was paced by Jason Jimenez’s 21 and Moh Sayed Ascano’s 20 points but lost steam in the end.

A win by San Beda B over Sacred Heart of Cebu late in the day should book it a berth in the championship set at 1:10 p.m.

Meanwhile, NBTC’s Eric Altamirano said there will be an All-Star game featuring the best junior players in the country at 11 a.m. followed by the 3x3 finale at 12:45 p.m.

The 3x3 was introduced this year as a side event. It was aimed at helping the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas in discovering talents from the new sport where the Philippines has a strong chance of hitting it big on the international stage.

“It’s our way of helping the SBP in their search of talents in the 3x3 event from the provinces. It’s good to start young,” said Altamirano.