Xavier raps SJCS; CKSC reigns

MANILA, Philippines - Defending four-time champion Xavier School demolished St. Jude Catholic School, 89-67, to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the Juniors division in the 42nd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association Tournament Tuesday at the Uno High School gym.

With former Youth Olympic Games veteran Jeron Teng putting on yet another shooting clinic, the Golden Stallions pulled away early to notch their fourth win in five games, thus assuring themselves of the No. 2 spot at the end of the elims even if they drop their last game against host Grace Christian College tomorrow.

Despite fouling out with still six minutes left, Teng, who is going to play for the La Salle in the coming UAAP season, finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals in just 27 minutes of action to boost his bid of winning a record third straight MVP plum.

Hope Christian High School has already secured the outright semis berth on the strength of its 5-0 record in the seven-school tournament presented by Regan Industrials Sales Inc. and World Balance.

Equally impressive was Chiang Kai Shek College which sent nine-time defending champion Xavier down to its knees with an emphatic 103-62 win to complete a five-game sweep of the elims in the Aspirants division of the tournament also backed by Uratex, Burlington, Summit Drinking Water, 100 Plus, Supreme Steel Pipe, Superior Pipe, Ace Water Spa and Molten.

Through the torrid shooting of JV Gallego and Maverick Chua, the Raging Dragons led from start to finish in a brilliant display of firepower to likewise secure the automatic semis berth. Gallego again topscored for CKSC with 26 points while Chua and Fran Yu had 22 and 16 markers.

So unforgiving were the Raging Dragons they walloped the field by an average winning margin of 65 points.

In the other Juniors match, Uno High School improved its record to 2-3 by outlasting St. Stephen’s High School, 57.45.