Tiong Lian-BonChon caging blasts off today

Games today 
12 noon – SJCS vs SSHS
1:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
3 p.m. – GCC vs XS
4:30 p.m. – HCHS vs CKSC
 

MANILA, Philippines - Host St. Stephen’s High School takes on St. Jude Catholic School today, seeking no less than a strong start in its bid to end a long title drought in the 43rd BonChon Chicken-Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association (MMTLBA) at the Chiang Kai Shek College gym in Manila.

The Stephenians have won eight titles in the premier Fil-Chinese league but failed to reach the finals since winning their last championship in 2005.

Defending champion Chiang Kai Shek College is the winningest team in the fold with 15 followed by Xavier School with 10. Uno High School, meanwhile, opted not to take part this time. 

The host school officials, led by its principal Judy Tan, sports moderator Lim Eng Peng and Board of Trustees member Gerald Chan, are hopeful they can contend for this year’s crown with Pierce Chan and Kevin Ng spearheading the team’s title campaign.

Tan, along with other school officials, will welcome guests, led by Reymond Ong of the Taipei Economics and Cultural Office, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios, FCAAP president Alvin Tai Lian and BonChon Chicken owners Alex Tan and Scott Tan, during the opening rites at 1:30 p.m. 

St. Stephen’s and St. Jude kick off hostilities at 12 noon.

The Xavier Golden Stallions, who will take on last year’s host Grace Christian College at 3 p.m., will be without superstar and three-time MVP Jeron Teng for the first time.

Teng, who was denied a fourth straight league championship after losing to the Blue Dragons in the semis, is now playing for the La Salle Archers in the UAAP.

With the graduation of finals MVP John Baytan and John Paul Nieles, the Blue Dragons will rely on Carlo Young, Kimlee Bayquin and Joshua Tan when they tangle with Hope Christian High School at 4:30 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s finals. 

Though the Dragons are the reigning titlists, the Hope Christians are the solid favorites after ruling the inaugural Philippine Secondary School Basketball Championship (PSSBC) over a formidable UAAP and NCAA squads, including San Beda College, Far Eastern University, Ateneo, National University, Letran and San Sebastian College.