Xavier gains semis; SSHS shocks GCC

Defending champion Xavier School streaked to its fifth straight win with a 116-63 demolition of Uno High School and clinched an outright semis berth in the 39th Yakult Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association (MMTBA) Championship Wednesday at the Uno High School gym in Manila.

Former RP Youth member Jeric Teng fouled out midway in the fourth period but still finished with a game-high 27 points as the Golden Stallions stayed unbeaten in the seven-team tournament among the country’s premier Fil-Chinese schools.

With Teng, Ian Umali, Donal Vincent Ong and Jose Anton Manuel at the helm, the Caesar Wongchuking-managed Xavier School took the early initiative, taking a 49-34 advantage at the half before pouring on the heat in the third quarter to rip the game wide apart.

St. Stephen’s High School made the race for the No. 2 position more exciting by downing Grace Christian College, 51-49, in the event sponsored by Rusty Lopez, Converse, Puma, Davies Paint, FG Jeans, Burlington, MEC Computer, Healthy Options, Outlast Batteries and PG Flex Linoleum.

The win improved St. Stephen’s record to 2-3 while handing Grace Christian College its second straight defeat. Both Uno and GCC have similar 3-2 records.

Clyde Aparicio led the Stephenians with 16 points and eight boards while Keno Chua and Wesley Ang combined for 18 points to surprise the heavily favored GCC squad. Christian So, who averaged 20 points per game for GCC, was held for just four points.

All games are aired by Makisig Sports Network (Channel 76 and 82) from 5 to 9 p.m. every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Meantime, Chiang Kai Shek College, the 2007 champion, tries to forge a three-way tie for second when it battles St. Stephen’s today. The Blue Dragons have a 2-2 mark.