SAN Beda overcame flat starts in their Tuesday matches to sweep the elimination round of the 2017 SM NBTC National High School Championship Division 1 presented by Freego in two separate venues.
The Red Cubs overcame Kamaka Hepa’s outburst to beat Filam Sports USA, 80-76, at the Mall of Asia Arena before beating AusPinoy One Solutions, 68-44, at the Palm Coast Marina Gym in Paranaque City.
With the twin victories, San Beda finished the eliminations with a 3-0 record in Group A to advance into the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon.
Peter Alfaro had 16 points, while Josh Tagala and Evan Nelle added 13 and 10 points each for the Red Cubs, who was able to survive the 27-point, 13-rebound, seven-block effort of Hepa.
Hepa already had 18 points in the fisrt half as the United States-based squad turned a one-point halftime lead into a 62-57 advantage entering the fourth.
Germy Mahinay, meanwhile, had 11 points and eight boards in San Beda’s victory over Australia after responding to an eight-point first quarter with a 23-9 outburst in the next period.
In other results, UAAP champion Far Eastern University and NCAA titlist Mapua beat separate opponents to clinch a semifinal berth.
Xyrus Torres had 18 points, while JJ Sapinit added 14 as the Baby Tamaraws defeated Crossover Sports Canada, 82-66.
Romuel Junsay had 13 points, Will Gozum had 12 markers and the Red Robins beat Camp David New Zealand, 87-48.
The Baby Tamaraws and the Red Robins vied for an unbeaten slot in Tuesday’s nightcap. The loser faces San Beda in the semifinals on Wednesday.
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