Kai Sotto came up with a double-double effort as the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eaglets swamped the La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, 88-59, Sunday, and moved closer to a second twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
Sotto drilled in 26 points and 20 rebounds for the Blue Eaglets, who picked up their 10th triumph in 13 matches in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
The 7’1” Sotto started flexing his muscles in the third period as the Blue Eaglets took charge with a decisive 13-0 run.
With the Junior Archers threatening, 35-36, Ian Espinosa and Sotto put Ateneo out of reach with their inside shots.
The Blue Eaglets took a 49-35 spread in the last 5:20, behind Sotto’s short jumper.
The Junior Archers, who got 14 points from Ivan Cudiamat, dropped to sixth at 4-9.
Earlier, the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs played a spoiler’s role in bringing down the Far Eastern University-Diliman Tamaraws, 86-83.
The Tiger Cubs broke an 83-all deadlock off a jumper from Jomar Amador and Irvin Manabat in the dying seconds.
This put the Baby Tamaraws in a share of third and fourth spot with the Adamson Falcons on similar 9-4 slates, with still a game left going into their final game in the elimination round.
Mark Nonoy fired 24 points for UST, while John Lina had 22. On the other hand, Renz Alforque shot 26 for FEU.
