Xavier stuns NU, faces San Beda in PSSBC final

MANILA, Philippines -  Xavier School sizzled from the long range as it rallied from 10 points down to shock reigning UAAP champion National University, 79-75, last Sunday and seal a showdown with NCAA champion San Beda College for the third Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) Ironcon Builders Cup crown at the Chiang Kai Shek College in Tondo, Manila.

Tyler Tio, Kyle Ong and Ralph Cu combined for four triples in a 17-2 binge as the Xavier Stallions overcame a 52-62 deficit to grab the lead at 69-64. NU countered with a 7-0 run and regained a 71-69 edge but Tio buried another to spark Xavier’s big windup.

In a fitting follow-up to his 28-point performance in the team’s 77-72 win over title favorite Chiang Kai Shek College last Saturday, Tio drilled in 20 points and drew solid backup from Ong and Cu, who tallied 17 and 12 points, respectively.

The Red Cubs, on the other hand, leaned on the quintet of Niko Abatayo, Sam Abuhijleh, Norrish Decapia, Chami Diputado and Andrei Caracut to beat former UAAP champion Far Eastern University, 61-57, and secure a return ticket to the final.

Xavier and San Beda dispute the crown on Saturday, also at the CKSC gym.