Blue Eaglets dominate San Rem Properties caging
Sam Belangel was unstoppable from all angles and Kai Sotto dominated the post as the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eaglets denied the Colegio de Santa Ana de Victorias Titans with a 75-60 victory in the championship game of the 2nd San Remegio Properties Invitational Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles Arena in Canduman, Mandaue City.
Belangel shot 7-of-14 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free throw line to lead all scorers.
Sotto nearly logged a triple double performance in 27 minutes and 10 seconds playing time.
Belangel scored the game high 26 points, had five rebounds, three assists and two steals while Sotto made 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight shotblocks as the Blue Eaglets went home with the title, denying CSAV once again, who also lost in the finals last year.
For his impressive performance, Sotto was named tournament MVP.
Despite losing the battle at the boards, 43-58, AdMU was more precise in their shots sinking 26 attempts out of 64 attempts compared to CSAV’s 24-of-86.
They nailed 17-of-32 free throw attempts against 10-of-20 of the Titans.
Two CSAV players were in double-double figures led by Junior Essakadoulla (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Jeffrey Manday (12pts, 10rebs). Reymart Caranoo grabbed 10 boards but those were not enough to pull them out of defeat. Sean Dave Ildefonso also almost had a double-dou- ble finish with 17 points and nine rebounds.
Jeric Adorio topscored for the Titans with 17 points but only five players from its 11-man roster, managed to contribute at least two points.
Meanwhile, the host team Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles salvaged the third place finish after surviving Western Leyte College Mustangs, 87-81 in the earlier game.
Andrew Velasco scored 19 points, Christian Manaytay had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Patrick Yu made 13 points and Justine Javellosa finished with 10 points.
The Magis Eagles scored a repeat against the Mustangs, who were dealt winless in the tournament despite the 23 points of Camelo Jose Sano.