Angelino Mark of Fil-Am Nation Select-USA in action against NU-Nazareth in the semifinals of the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals, April 4, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Lorenzo Buenafe, NBTC

MANILA -- The defending champions in both divisions of the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals are still in the running for back-to-back crowns.

Fil-Am Nation Select-USA and Top Flight Hoops-Canada recorded wins over separate opponents on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena to return to the championship round of their respective divisions.

Fil-Am Nation, the reigning Division 1 champions, turned back UAAP powerhouse National University-Nazareth School, 85-73, behind a 26-point, nine-rebound outing from Angelino Mark.

READ: Fil-Am Nation Select, NU-Nazareth to clash in NBTC semis

Mark scored 11 of his total output in the final quarter to keep the Bullpups at bay. Meanwhile, Caelum Harris also kept up his improved play, finishing with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double to make sure Fil-Am Nation stayed on track in its title retention bid in the grassroots program.

Migs Palanca went blow-for-blow with Harris, tallying 21 points, 11 rebounds, and four rejections, as Thomas Pillado and Mac Alfanta contributed 16 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Bullpups who were eliminated by the Fil-Ams for the second year in a row.

Set to challenge Fil-Am Nation for the crown in Phenom Bluefire-Pasay, which stunned newly-crowned UAAP champions University of Santo Tomas, 89-72.

The De La Salle Zobel 1-2 punch of Bonn Daja and Kieffer Alas did the most damage, with the former posting a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double and the latter firing 20 markers built on six triples.

After a high-scoring first half that saw the Tiger Cubs trailing by just one, Phenom Bluefire kept its foot on the gas for a 26-point third quarter that ultimately sent them to the championship round.

Alongside Daja and Alas, Matthew Jucom contributed six points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and three assists for the Pasay-based club team which became the first wildcard to fight for the Philippine under-19 basketball championship.

For UST, Charles Bucsit topped the scoring column with 18 points, as Koji Buenaflor logged a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Kieffer Alas of Phenom Bluefire-Pasay celebrates against UST in the semifinals of the 2025 Smart-NBTC National Finals, April 4, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Lorenzo Buenafe, NBTC

In Division 2, Top Flight Hoops will also go for back-to-back championships thanks to a thrilling comeback against DPR Aviation College-Bulacan, 90-88.

At one point trailing by 14, the Fil-Canadians battled back into the game before Joey Panghulan finally tied the tally at 88-all with 32 ticks to go.

Moments later, Panghulan saved the day once and for all with his putback of teammate Chad Gammad’s jumper proving to be the difference.

Gammad wound up with 31 points on top of six rebounds and two steals, as Panghulan also added 10 markers, six boards, four assists, and three steals.

Awaiting them in the final game will be St. Jude College-Dasmariñas which topped EZ Jersey Doc Boleros-CAMANAVA, 69-58.

Defense was the name of the game for the Thaddeans, led by Rasher Barquin, who was stellar on the defensive end with 11 boards (four on the offensive side), three steals, and two blocks, as in all, they nearly doubled their opponents’ rebounding total, 47-26.

For EZ Jersey Doc Boleros, John Arvin Ruba showed the way with 18 points and nine rebounds, which was backed up by Stanley Troy Gicoso and Nexel Aguilo, who notched 16 and 14, respectively.