Xavier scores Tiong Lian '3-peat'

MANILA, Philippines - Xavier School repeated over St. Jude Catholic School, 83-75, to sweep the Freego-Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association (MMTLBA) tournament for the second straight year at the Chiang Kai Shek College gym in Tondo last Thursday.

Jeron Teng fired 25 points and hauled down 11 rebounds in a double-double performance as he led the Golden Stallions to a sweep of their best-of-three series and a nine-game sweep of the tournament presented by Fresh Gear Revolution Denim.

Teng alsomade four assists and two steals for Xavier, which ruled the event for the third straight year.

Like in their 75-70 triumph in Game One, the Golden Stallions bucked the Judenites’ gritty stand as Jose Manuel, Kevin Lim, Donal Ong, Bryan Tan, Harold Ng and Angelo Wongchuking backed Teng with a superb all around game.

Manuel hit 15 points and grabbed two rebounds, Ng tallied 12 and Lim, Ong and Tan each had nine points while Wongchuking held his own on the defensive end.

The event was backed by Fern-C, 100 Plus Isotonic Sports Drink, Outlast Battery, Rusty Lopez, Puma, Converse, Burlington, Davis Paint, MEC Computer, Molten, Bantex Sandals and Bow & Wow - the Natural Pets Food Store.

With the win, Xavier became the second team to score a three-peat, matching the record of multi-titled Chiang Kai Shek College.

Bannered then by the troika of Joseph Yeo, Ty Tang and Chris Tiu, the Golden Stallions dominated the league from 2001 to 2003. Overall, it was the seventh crown for Xavier.

The win was the 19th straight for the Golden Stallions dating back to their championship duel with Chiang Kai Shek in 2008.

Chiang Kai Shek College, the winningest team with 14 titles, won three in a row from 1978 to 1980 and from 1990-92.