Metro Manila squads reach NBTC-Seaoil semis

Games today (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)

8 a.m. – Division 2 finals

10 a.m. – Division 1 finals

12 noon – Seaoil NBTC High School All-Star Game

MANILA, Philippines - Two Metro Manila teams and two provincial squads clinched berths in the Division 1 semifinals following victories yesterday in separate venues of the Seaoil-NBTC National High School Championship.

Seaoil Extreme Diesel-National University A, trounced Philex Mining Zamboanga-Southern City College, 82-39, at the Xavier Gym, while Seaoil Extreme 95-Chiang Kai Shek College trounced Maynilad Cebu-University of San Carlos, 76-66, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig to claim semifinal berths.

The provincial teams also made a noise as Smart Iloilo-Hua Siong College of Iloilo came through in the clutch to avert a third Metro Manila semifinalist by beating Seaoil Extreme U-NU-B, 87-81, in overtime at the Xavier Gym.

Maynilad Cebu-Sacred Heart School also earned a semifinal trip as it cruised to a 100-36 victory over Philex Mining Davao-Assumption College at the Ynares Sports Arena in the event which serves as the grassroots development program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

NU-A faced Sacred Heart, and Hua Siong went up against Chiang Kai Shek last night (Saturday) for the right to play in the finals slated today, 10 a.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Seaoil NBTC All-Star Game will also be held today at 12 noon where the best high school players in the country will play against each other in the event also backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Meralco, Smart, NLEX, Maynilad, Philex, The Philippine STAR and Molten.

National youth team member Arnie Padilla had 21 points for the Cebu-based Sacred Heart School in their match against Davao, as Jeremy James Gallemit had 19 points, and Jonas Raphael Tibayan added 17 points and 12 rebounds for CKSC against USC.

In Division 2 quarterfinal round action, NLEX Pampanga-University of Assumption beat Philex Mining Bukidnon-Bethel Baptist Christian School, 81-48, while NLEX Olongapo-Olongapo City National HS beat Seaoil Extreme 95-Reedley International School, 86-69, to arrange a semifinal clash.

Seaoil Extreme U-Trinity University of Asia and Seaoil Extreme Diesel-College of San Benildo will play in the other semifinal pairing after beating Meralco Batangas-De La Salle Lipa, 66-54, and NLEX Baguio-University of Cordilleras, 63-52, respectively.