Fil-Am Nation Select-USA's Angelino Mark in action against Arellano in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals, April 3, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Hero Dela Pena, NBTC

MANILA -- Fil-Am Nation Select-USA and National University-Nazareth School set up a semifinals clash in the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals after taking care of business against separate opponents in the last eight, Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Defending champions Fil-Am Nation ousted the last remaining NCAA team in Arellano, 84-67.

Angelino Mark continued to impress with a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double, while Caelum Harris finally breached double-digits with 12 points on top of three blocks and two steals.

From a tight opening frame, the US-based team went on a 28-13 tear to ensure its title defense continued in the SM Supermalls Fearless 4.

The Bullpups, on the other hand, stamped their class all over the upstarts from Nueva Ecija, i-Achievers Modern College, 92-60.

READ: Nueva Ecija stuns Letran, advances to Division 1

Three players scored in double-digits for NU-Nazareth, led by Mac Alfanta's 11 points, as Jid Locsin stuffed the stat sheet with 10 markers, seven assists, three steals, and two rebounds and Ain Usop also added 10 points of his own.

With the game already wide open, the Bullpups turned their lead insurmountable thanks to a 30-6 third quarter en route to the semifinals of the grassroots program.

Fil-AM Nation is expecting a tough challenge from the Bullpups, which won three straight NBTC crowns from 2019 to 2023.

In the other bracket, both Cebu teams were ousted from contention with wins by Phenom Blue Fire-Pasay and UST-Manila.

Matthew Jucom showed Phenom Blue Fire the way to a 91-81 triumph over University of Southern Philippines Foundation with a 20-point performance, further bolstered by Kieffer Alas and his 17 points and nine rebounds.

The Pasay-based club team dominated for the majority of the match and had an 18-point edge, 75-57, at the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter, but the Baby Panthers kept coming and got to as close as seven, 77-84.

Bonn Daja proved steady from the stripe in the last two minutes, however, on his way to a total of 11 points and eight rebounds.

The newly-minted UAAP boys' basketball champion Tiger Cubs escaped by a hair from a very game Team Khalifa, 82-80.

READ: Cebu's Team Khalifa stuns FEU-Diliman for place in q'finals

NUNS' Mac Alfanta in action against i-Achievers Modern College in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals, April 3, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Hero Dela Pena, NBTC

Charles Bucsit and crew refused to be the second straight UAAP team to fall to the Cebuanos, as he splashed six triples en route to 21 points.

UST was nursing a six-point lead late in the final frame only to see Jake Yong and Johncel Borjal trim it to just two with consecutive baskets. Team Khalifa even had a shot at stealing the win, but Yong hit back iron in his last-second attempt beyond the arc.

For the Division 2 Fearless 4, DPR Aviation College-Bulacan overtook Crossover Canada, 79-71, behind John Lord Cruz and his 23 points and 15 rebounds.

The Bulakenos will now face the other Canadian team, Top Flight Hoops-Canada, which also advanced via a 91-58 victory vs. AGCCI-Davao.

Chad Gammad rained down 30 points, built on eight three-pointers - compared to the seven all of AGCCI mustered for the Fil-Canadians who are still seeking a second straight crown.

The other pairing will then see St. Jude College Dasmarinas Cavite face off with EZ Jersey-Doc Boleros.

The Cavitenos fended off LCC-Bacolod El Tzino Davies, 65-60, behind John Loyd Martinez' 29-point eruption alongside 11 rebounds, while the North Luzon regional champions topped University of San Jose-Recoletos, 79-75, on the back of 20 points by Dominic Salazar.