Xavier whips St. Jude, revs up for T Lian finals

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled Xavier School primed up for the finals by crushing St. Jude Catholic School, 88-46, in the 43rd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association-BonChon Chicken Championship at the CKSC gym in Manila over the weekend.

Though already assured of a finals berth, the Golden Stallions still played tough, coming through with a decisive run early behind Louis Cu, John So, Kyles Lao and Anton Lapez to post a 24-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and padding their lead to 45-17 en route to victory.

The win was the eighth in 10 games for the Stallions who are gunning for their 11th title in the tournament backed by Solar BTV, Molten and Summit Water.

Hope Christian High School and reigning champion Chiang Kai Shek College also routed their respective rivals to both improve to 7-2.

Determined to end their long title drought this season, the Bernard Yang-managed Hope Christian ripped Grace Christian College, 104-46, while Chiang Kai Shek College dumped St. Stephen’s School, 88-56.

A three-way tie for the top spot at 8-2 will ensue if last year’s runner-up Hope Christian and Chiang Kai Shek College hurdle their last assignments today. If that happens, Xavier and Hope Christian will finish 1-2 via the tiebreak.

The best-of-three title series starts Thursday next week.

Xavier spoiled what could be another CKSC-Hope Christian championship by beating CKSC by more than five points last Tuesday, 68-62.