SBC, Sacred Heart-Ateneo, CKS advance to semis

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda’s two teams and Sacred Heart-Ateneo posted lopsided victories to advance to the semifinals of the eighth Seaoil-NBTC High School Championships at the Ynares Sports Arena, Philsports Complex and Meralco Gym yesterday.

Powered by Joshua Sinclair’s 30-point, 18-rebound performance, Sacred Heart smashed Assumption College of Davao, 83-64, a few hours after it overpowered a Naga City Montessori, 100-61.

The San Beda Cubs, the reigning NCAA champions, clobbered Castillejos National High School of Zambales, 88-73, while their second team downed Zamboanga’s Southern City College, 86-74, to book a spot in the playoff round.

Chiang Kai Shek, the defending champion, clobbered University of Cordilleras-Baguio, 115-54, in the morning, then routed St. John of Bacolod, 98-53, in the afternoon, to likewise advance to the next phase.

Businessman-sportsman Joel Lopa, president of Tao Corp., was honored for his pioneering efforts in the fledgling National Basketball Training Center and told participants that the NBTC “teaches not only basketball but also life’s lessons through teamwork, sportsmanship and character.”

Ateneo Blue Eagle Keifer Ravena, in his inspirational message, also urged the country’s top high school players to “enjoy the moment” and do everything in their power to be competitive.”

Divided into six groups with teams from each pool playing one round robin, the top six of the tournament backed by the MVP Sports Foundation and which serves as the official grassroots development program of the SBP will advance to the next round, with the qualifiers from Groups A, D and E in one pool and those from Groups B, C and F in another for a single round play. The top teams from either pool then meet in the championship.

Bracketed in Group A are San Beda-B, Laguna and Zamboanga; Group B has NU, Tarlac and Iloilo; Group C has San Beda-A, Lucena and Zambales; Group D has Chiang Kai Shek College, Baguio and Bacolod; Group E has Cebu, Davao and Naga; and Group F has Cavite, Pampanga and Cagayan de Oro.

The six semifinal matches will be played at the Ynares Arena today starting at 8 a.m. while three FIBA-endorsed 3-on-3 matches are set at the Meralco gym from 8 in the morning.

Inaugural day matches at the YSA also saw San Beda-B dump University of Perpetual Help System from Biñan, Laguna, 96-58, and National Universiity demolish Gerona Institute from Tarlac, 133-49.