UAAP king Adamson High School inched closer to another championship, this time in the 2024 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM Supermalls after asserting mastery over Yengskivel Sportswear, 88-77, Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Like they did throughout the recently concluded UAAP Season 86 boys basketball tournament, the Baby Falcons put forth total team effort to overwhelm their opponents. They counted five players in double-digits led by reserve Gab De Jesus’ 17 points, while Earl Medina also added 15 markers of his own, all coming from downtown.
Adamson will use the same recipe for success when they face off with NCAA Season 99 third-placer Mapua High School which tamed University of Santo Tomas, 71-63.
Sean Salvador top-scored for the Red Robins with 16 markers and Lance Gragasin also added 13 points, three rebounds, and three steals, as they turn their attention to the Fearless 4 also supported by adidas, Molten, Swish, and Farm Fresh Dairy on Friday still at the same venue.
The other side of the semifinals bracket then features a matchup between dominant Fil-Am Nation Select-USA and impressive Batang Tiaong.
The Fil-Americans solidified their chances of returning to the final, as they routed One Media TV48 Naga by 32 points, 95-63. Terrence Hill wound up with 22 points, while Andy Gemao stuffed the stat sheet with 14 markers, six rebounds, five assists, and five steals.
The South Luzon champions hailing from Quezon Province, meanwhile, added another feather to their cap courtesy of a come-from-behind 80-66 win at the expense of San Sebastian College-Recoletos. Nico Mulingtapang’s 26 points and eight boards showed the way, as he was backed up by Mowell Morales’ 22-marker, 16-rebound double-double.
Another win and two of these four teams will find themselves in the final on Sunday, but not before the NBTC shines the spotlight on the best of the best young Filipino talent on All-Star Saturday.
Gemao, Hill, Matthew Jucom (UNBL-Don Bosco), and Russel Liwanag (PPG Tarlac) will join Jared Bahay’s Team Heart, while Jacob Bayla (Fil-Am Nation), EJ Sapasap (PPG Tarlac), JB Lim (UST), and John Rodulfa (FMLP/KMTE Customs Brokerage-Davao) will reinforce the Team Hustle of Kieffer Alas.
The NBTC All-Star Game tips off at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by the Manila Live Girls All-Star Game, the Three-Point Shootout, the Shooting Stars competition, the Skills Challenge, and the Manila Showcase.
As for the Division 2 championship, the Fearless 4 is composed of Arellano High School, Top Flight Canada, Eco Green Technology-Makati, and Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas.
