STI five holds off Xavier, books quarterfinal ticket

MANILA, Philippines - STI College silenced Xavier School in the last three minutes, 99-90, in their knockout wildcard match to book a quarterfinal seat in the 3rd-Freego Filipino-Chinese Basketball League (FCBL) Cup at the Phil. Buddhacare Gym in Quezon City.

With the game tied at 90-all with exactly three minutes remaining, STI’s Reno Alcantara hit four free throws to gain control and the Stallions failed to convert their shots in that stretch to crash out in the annual high school cagefest also presented by Smart Communications.

Alcantara finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to bag the Freego Cup Best Player of the game honor. Xavier’s Donal Ong hit four triples to bag the Energen Best 3-Point Shooter of the contest.

Also advancing into the quarterfinal round were University of Santo Tomas, which beat Adamson, 80-70; Far Eastern University which demolished Chiang Kai Shek College, 77-55; and La Salle Greenhills which upended sister school La Salle Zobel, 76-67.

The quarterfinal stage of the tournament, which is also supported by Mighty Sports, Colt Commercial, Star Galaxy Industrial Fabricator Inc., Powerbest Marketing Inc., Mandarin Sky Seafood and Shabu-Shabu Restaurant, Multimotors Auto Part Inc. and Apple Tape, starts today.

E.J. Corre led four Tiger Cubs in double figures with 17 points to arrange a quarterfinal duel with Ateneo. Irvin Mendoza led the Baby Falcons with 24 points.

Austin Fabian and Mark Tanoy combined for 42 markers to pace the Baby Tams, who will face Jose Rizal University in the quarters. Paul Aduana had 23 points for CKSC.

Joseph Trajano hit 26 points to lead the Greenies over the Junior Archers. LSGH now faces Mapua in the next round.

In consolation matches, Adamson beat Xavier, 87-74, while La Salle Zobel edged CKSC, 67-63.