Sotto tops NBTC high school rankings for 2nd straight week

MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo’s seven-foot center Kai Sotto topped the Chooks to Go NBTC High School Player Rankings for the second week in a row in the point of view of a panel of sportswriters and coaches after leading the Blue Eaglets to a pair of victories to hike their total to 10-0 in the ongoing UAAP Juniors tournament.

The 15-year old Sotto averaged 12.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks in victories over Adamson and FEU.

Also remaining idle in their position among high school’s elite is La Salle Greenhills’ high scoring Joel Cagulangan.

Climbing up the rankings from fifth to third spot is Sotto’s Ateneo teammate SJ Belangel, who normed 13.5 points, 5.0 boards, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals in their two wins.

Mapua’s Will Gozum drops a notch to fourth spot despite his Red Robins getting a measure of revenge by ousting LSGH in the quarterfinals of the Metro Manila Basketball League.

Climbing up a notch to fifth is FEU’s LJ Gonzales, who led the Baby Tamaraws to a 1-1 record for the week. FEU won over UE but lost to Ateneo. In the two matches, Gonzales averaged 16.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.5 steals.

Three new players made the rankings — Ateneo’s Joaqui Manuel who came in at #21, Bacolod Tay Tung’s Harold Alarcon who followed at #22, and the University of Visayas’ Joshua Yerro who averaged 10.0 points in PSSBC competition.

The list of 24 top high school players all over the Philippines are as follows:

1. Kai Sotto, Ateneo (Last week #1)
2. Joel Cagulangan, LSGH (Last week #2)
3. SJ Belangel, Ateneo (Last week #5)
4. Will Gozum, Mapua (Last week #3)
5. LJ Gonzales, FEU (Last week #6)
6. Dave Ildefonso, Ateneo (Last week #8)
7. Rhayyan Amsali, NU (Last week #7)
8. CJ Cansino, UST (Last week #4)
9. Clint Escamis, Mapua (Last week #10)
10. Aaron Fermin, Arellano (Last week #9)
11. Terrence Fortea, NU (Last week #16)
12. RJ Abarrientos, FEU (Last week #15)
13. Inand Fornilos, LSGH (Last week #11)
14. Evan Nelle, SBC (Last week #12)
15. Warren Bonifacio, Mapua (Last week #13)
16. John Galinato, CKSC (Last week #14)
17. Mac Guadana, LPU (Last week #18)
18. Raven Cortez, DLSZ (Last week #19)
19. Harvey Pagsanjan, HCHS (Last week #20)
20. Maui Cruz, EAC (Last week #23)
21. Joaqui Manuel, Ateneo
22. Harold Alarcon, Tay Tung High School Bacolod
23. Jancork Cabahug, University of Visayas (Last week #17)
24. Joshua Yerro, University of Visayas

Student-athletes taking part in the UAAP, CESAFI-NBTC, MMBL, FCAAF tournaments as well as the recently concluded NCAA competition are ranked using the following criteria: league stats, impact in team, team record, leadership, defense, offense and level of competition.

The SM-NBTC High School Player rankings have been adopted from its American cousins for the seeding of participants in the annual NBTC High School All-Star Game, which will be held in March at the Mall of Asia Arena.