Both defending champions in the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM Supermalls remain in the running, as Fil-Am Nation Select-USA and Top Flight Hoops-Canada returned to the finals after separate convincing victories, Friday at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Division 1’s reigning titlists from the US got the better of UAAP power NU-Nazareth School once more, 85-73.
Their shot at back-to-back crowns was powered by Angelino Mark, who continued to make a case for Most Outstanding Player with 26 points and nine rebounds. With his side clinging on to a nine-point lead after three quarters, the combo guard dropped 11 points in the final frame to keep their foes at bay.
Caelum Harris also kept up his improved play, finishing with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double to make sure Fil-Am Nation stayed on track in its title retention bid in the grassroots program also sponsored by MNL Kingpin, Molten, Pocari Sweat, Burlington, Swish, and Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things.
Migs Palanca went blow-for-blow with Harris, tallying 21 points, 11 rebounds, and four rejections, as Thomas Pillado and Mac Alfanta chimed in 16 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Bullpups who were eliminated by the Fil-Ams for the second year in a row.
The last team standing in Mark, Harris, and Co.’s way is Phenom Bluefire-Pasay after taming freshly-minted UAAP king UST-Manila, 89-72.
The De La Salle Zobel 1-2 punch of Bonn Daja and Kieffer Alas did the most damage, with the former posting a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double and the latter firing 20 markers built on six triples.
After a high-scoring first half that saw the Tiger Cubs trailing by just one, Phenom Bluefire kept its foot on the gas for a 26-point third quarter that ultimately sent them to the championship round.
Alongside Daja and Alas, Matthew Jucom contributed six points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and three assists for the Pasay-based club team which becomes the first wildcard to fight for the Philippine under-19 basketball championship.
For UST, Charles Bucsit topped the scoring column with 18 points, as Koji Buenaflor logged a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double.
