Big City bets stamp class

The Red Cubs, who drew a bye Thursday following the exclusion of the Philippine College of Criminology in Group A, threw the full weight of their might and whipped University of Santo Tomas, 98-38, scoring at will in offense and proving unforgiving on the other end.

The 60-point rout was the biggest so far recorded in the eight-day tournament which gathered the country’s top high school teams in a World Championship-style competition sponsored by Sunkist.

The victory thus sent San Beda to the quarterfinals of this event, backed by Air Philippines, Purefoods, Alaska, Molten, Burlington and Pagcor, Petron, Agfa and Photoplus and P.J. Lhuillier, along with Ateneo de Davao, which also trounced the UST cagers, 67-59, Thursday.

The Blue Eaglets, on the other hand, led from start to finish and came away with a 75-62 victory in a follow-up to their 58-50 triumph over University of St. La Salle Thursday to lead the qualifiers in Group C.

Letran, which blasted Pampanga, 86-65, in Group D Thursday; later joined Ateneo de Manila in the quarters by demolishing University of St. La Salle, 80-55.

But the chase for the second berth in Group B became too close to call as Mapua bounced back from its heart-breaking 56-58 loss to University of the Phils. Integrated School Thursday by stunning Xavier, 55-52. UPIS is fancied to clinch the first slot.

Adamson, meanwhile, remained in the hunt after an opening day loss to San Sebastian, 51-61, as it outlasted Sacred Heart, 78-75.