MANILA (FIBA U16 Asian Championship) - Philippines star prospect Kai Sotto got the better of a trio of his teammates for the up-coming FIBA U16 Asian Championship as he won co-MVP honors in the country’s Slam Rising Stars Classic 2018 in Manila.

Sotto collected 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks while co-MVP Evan Nelle had 21 points in guiding the Team Punks to a 124-116 overtime victory over Team Hype at the Gatorade Hoops Center in the Filipino capital.

Sotto, who recently won the UAAP Season 80 Finals MVP award after leading Ateneo de Manila University to the title, picked up a couple of key rebounds and blocked two shots in overtime as Punks prevailed after blowing a 17-point lead.

Three of Sotto's opponents in the Rising Stars exhibition can be happy in knowing that they will have the big man on their team in a couple of weeks at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship.

Terrence Fortea, who had 13 points, Mac Guadana, who scored seven points, and Raven Cortez, who chipped in four points in the loss, have all been included on Philippines' roster for the continental championship, which runs from April 2-8 and where the team have been drawn with Australia and Malaysia in Group B.

Philippines are vying for at least a spot in the Semi-Finals, which would then qualify for this summer's FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 in Argentina. Philippines have only played in one U17 global showcase, coming in 2014.

FIBA