By Jerome Lagunzad
Kai Sotto (photo by Peter Paul Baltazar)Rampaging Ateneo sustained its menacing form while National University secured the remaining Final Four incentive last Sunday in the UAAP Season 80 juniors basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City.
SJ Belangel stood tall offensively with 18 points while towering center Kai Sotto anchored the lane with 16 rebounds and a block on top of 13 points as the Blue Eaglets repeated over University of the Philippines Integrated School, 90-75.
It was the 12th straight victory for the Blue Eaglets, who could earn an automatic seat in best-of-three finals if they can get the job done over also-ran University of the East tomorrow and powerhouse NU this weekend.
The Bullpups also earned a fair share of the spotlight by handling the Junior Warriors
with ease, 83-64, to keep their stranglehold on the second spot with a 10-2 card and clinch the last twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
Rhayyan Amsali tallied 13 points and 11 rebonds while six other teammates added at least six points each to help NU earn some measure of revenge after the UAAP Board overturned its first-round victory—via forfeiture—over the same UE side last month.
Meanwhile, defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman foiled an upset-conscious La Salle-Zobel crew, 87-86, in overtime to boost its Final Four drive.
RJ Abarrientos sizzled with 27 points while backcourt buddy LJay Gonzales added 24 points in yet another potent attack as the Baby Tamaraws rediscovered their groove in time to survive the Junior Archers and jack up their record to 7-5.
Adamson also kept itself in the semis hunt as the Baby Falcons compounded the woes of struggling University of Santo Tomas, 91-74, to force a two-way tie at the fourth—and final playoff—spot with the Tiger Cubs.
Doria brothers, Andrey and Adam, combined for 40 points to lead the way for Adamson, which dominated UST in the second half on the way to posting identical 6-6 marks.
La Salle-Zobel and UPIS both kissed their respective semis hopes goodbye with similar 3-9 slates, good for sixth and seventh spots, while UE remained at the cellar with only a win to show after 12 matches.
Kai Sotto (photo by Peter Paul Baltazar)Rampaging Ateneo sustained its menacing form while National University secured the remaining Final Four incentive last Sunday in the UAAP Season 80 juniors basketball tournament at the Blue Eagle gym in Quezon City.
SJ Belangel stood tall offensively with 18 points while towering center Kai Sotto anchored the lane with 16 rebounds and a block on top of 13 points as the Blue Eaglets repeated over University of the Philippines Integrated School, 90-75.
It was the 12th straight victory for the Blue Eaglets, who could earn an automatic seat in best-of-three finals if they can get the job done over also-ran University of the East tomorrow and powerhouse NU this weekend.
The Bullpups also earned a fair share of the spotlight by handling the Junior Warriors
with ease, 83-64, to keep their stranglehold on the second spot with a 10-2 card and clinch the last twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
Rhayyan Amsali tallied 13 points and 11 rebonds while six other teammates added at least six points each to help NU earn some measure of revenge after the UAAP Board overturned its first-round victory—via forfeiture—over the same UE side last month.
Meanwhile, defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman foiled an upset-conscious La Salle-Zobel crew, 87-86, in overtime to boost its Final Four drive.
RJ Abarrientos sizzled with 27 points while backcourt buddy LJay Gonzales added 24 points in yet another potent attack as the Baby Tamaraws rediscovered their groove in time to survive the Junior Archers and jack up their record to 7-5.
Adamson also kept itself in the semis hunt as the Baby Falcons compounded the woes of struggling University of Santo Tomas, 91-74, to force a two-way tie at the fourth—and final playoff—spot with the Tiger Cubs.
Doria brothers, Andrey and Adam, combined for 40 points to lead the way for Adamson, which dominated UST in the second half on the way to posting identical 6-6 marks.
La Salle-Zobel and UPIS both kissed their respective semis hopes goodbye with similar 3-9 slates, good for sixth and seventh spots, while UE remained at the cellar with only a win to show after 12 matches.