Xavier forces KO match

MANILA, Philippines - Kyles Lao put on another sterling performance as Xavier School defeated Hope Christian High School, 80-74, to force a knockout match in the 43rd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association-BonChon Chicken Juniors Championship at the Chiang Kai Shek College Gymnasium last Monday.

The 6-foot Lao exploded for 31 points – his second straight 30-plus points in the title series – as the Golden Stallions revived their hopes to duplicate their stirring feat two years ago when they rebounded from an opening game loss to the Hope Christians to win the crown.

Lao, who knocked in 33 points in a 74-66 loss in Game 1, was almost unstoppable this time, finishing with 9-of-16 shooting from the field aside from making all his 13 charities. He also had six assists, five rebounds and a steal to pick up his seventh BonChon Chicken Player of the Game award.

His two charities in a decisive 6-0 shattered a 68-all count as Xavier took the lead for good.

Game 3 of the best-of-three series supported by Solar BTV, Molten and Summit Water will be held tomorrow, also at the same venue. The match will be aired on Sunday on Basketball TV from 3 to 5 p.m.

Another win tomorrow will give Xavier its 11th title – the most by a team in the league the past 15 years. Their championship run was started by Joseph Yeo, TY Tang and Chris Tiu – all playing in the PBA now.

Hope Christian team manager Bernard Yang, however, said the loss was just a wake-up call for his players, saying: “They have the tendency to relax, I just hope they have learned a lesson. Lalaban kami nang husto sa Game 3.”

Also shining for Xavier was Anton Lopez whose second triple gave them a 77-71 breather with a little over two minutes left.

Xavier’s interior defense was effective this time as the Stallions limited Jollo Go to 12 points – a far cry from his 23-point performance in Game 1.

Hope Christian, who led 38-30 at the half, will end two decades of futility if it rediscovers its sharpness – both offense and defense – and prevails over Xavier tomorrow.