THE kids of two former Philippine Basketball Association stars showed the way as the Ateneo Blue Eaglets smothered La Salle-Zobel, 69-53, Saturday in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
Dave Ildefonso and Kai Sotto made their presence felt in the first period as the Blue Eaglets took charge right away and formally snared the last Final Four playoff slot.
The 6’5” Ildefonso, son of former two-time PBA MVP Danny Ildefonso, backed up top-scorer Sam Josef Belangel and mainstay Jason Credo, with 15 points and 13 points, as their efforts helped send the Eaglets to their seventh win in 12 games.
Sotto, the 6’9” 14-year-old son of former 6’7” Petron big man Ervin Sotto, debuted for the Blue Eaglets with a putback during Ateneo’s opening salvo and finished with nine points and 13 rebounds.
Belangel and Credo, a 6’4” power forward, hit 19 points and 13 points for the the Blue Eaglets, who set themselves up for a Final Four matchup with the solo-leading Adamson Baby Falcons.
In other games, Encho Serrano shot 17 points, while EJ Agbong added 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Baby Falcons crushed University of the East, 93-68, and improved to 11-1 at no. 1 spot.
They are now a win away from formally securing a twice-to-beat advantage.
The defending champion Nazareth School of National University rallied past the University of Sto. Tomas Tiger Cubs for a 72-59 win that gave them a 10-2 slate.
Far Eastern University-Diliman came off with 99-75 beating of University of the Philippines Integrated School, with Xyrus Torres making 17 points to tow five other teammates in double-digits for their ninth win in 12 games.
Their respective losses dropped the Junior Archers to 3-9, the Junior Maroons to 3-9, and the Junior Warriors to 1-11.