Hope notches 4th in row, stops St. Stephen’s

Games today (SGS gym, Araneta Ave., Q.C.)

1 p.m. – Xavier vs CKSC

2:30 p.m.  â€“ Ateneo vs SBC

4 p.m. – DLSZ vs JRU

5:30 p.m. – Mapua vs NU

MANILA, Philippines - Hope Christian High School, with Joebert Mercado and Jollo Go on the firing end, smothered St. Stephen’s High School, 82-70, in the second Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) Monday at the Chiang Kai Chek College gym.

Mercado fired 25 points and finished with nine rebounds, two steals and a block while Go buried eight triples for 24 points as the defending champions rebounded from a 70-77 defeat to San Beda with a sweep of their next four games for a 4-1 record in Group B elims.

“Our goal was to give all the players the playing time in preparation for the quarterfinals. Though my second unit struggled a bit, I still commend all the players for their effort,” said Hope Christian champion coach Stevenson Tiu.

Meanwhile, NCAA champion San Beda goes for a sweep of Group B elims as it battles Ateneo at the close of the elims of the 11-team tournament sponsored by Ironcon Builders, MEC Computer,  Hapee Toothpaste, Welcoat Paints, Dickies Underwear, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Wrangler, Ever Bilena, Davies Paint and Spray & Seal Tire Sealant.

Gametime is at 2:30 p.m. after the crucial match between Tiong Lian heavyweights Xavier and Chiang Kai Shek College at 1 p.m.

UAAP champion National University ((2-1) also tries to advance to the next round as it mixes it up with Mapua (1-2) at 5:30 p.m. in Group A just after the La Salle Zobel-Jose Rizal University tussle.

The winner in the La Salle-JRU encounter will earn the last quarterfinal berth in Group B.

St. Stephen’s appeared headed for an upset win when it took a 34-31 through the courageous effort of Pierce Chan who sparked a 10-0 run. But Mercado scattered 10 points in a telling 16-2 counter-attack as Hope Christian regained the lead for good, 47-34.

Chan paced St. Stephen’s with 31 points and 11 boards.