ATHLETICS

Xavier Goes for Tiong Lian Title
Mr. Henry Liao (XS '72)

Posted Friday, 17-Feb-2006 9:38 AM

      One down, one more to go.

      On Thursday night (Feb. 16), undefeated Xavier School seeks a 2-0 sweep against Chiang Kai Shek in the best-of-three Juniors Division finals of the 2006 Tiong Lian basketball tournament at the UNO gym in Mayhaligue, Manila.

      The Stallions, who last took the crown in 2003, took the series opener, 72-61, Tuesday night for their eighth consecutive victories in as many games. They never trailed after racing to an 8-0 lead as Marc Tio knocked in Xavier's first eight markers. After a field goal by Chiang Kai Shek, Xavier went on a 9-0 run for a 17-2 lead. CKS subsequently got its second field goal but another 7-0 blast by the Stallions gave them a 24-4 advantage, their biggest lead of the night.

      The first quarter ended at 24-6. Woody Co picked up his third foul late in the second quarter, but his spellers kept CKS's big men Justin Chua and Alexander Wong at bay as Xavier settled for a 36-23 lead at halftime. CKS pruned down its deficit to a single digit for the only time in the second half after opening the third quarter with a pair of baskets, 36-27. However, Xavier doused off any potential rally by CKS with seven consecutive points of its own, 43-27, a run that was triggered by a three-point play by Co.

      Xavier got into penalty situation early in the third period but CKS failed to cash in on its free-throw opportunities. The Stallions led only by a dozen, 57-45, after the third quarter but they opened thefinal 10-minute period with seven straight points, 64-45 behind Philmon Yao 's five and Charles Tiu's two. Both schools exchanged baskets thereafter and when Irvin Sta. Maria knocked in his fourth and fifth points, Xavier was up, 72-57, with two minutes remaining in the game.

      Xavier went 14-for-20 overall from the free-throw line while CKS made just 19 of its 35 charity shots, including 9-of-20 in the first half. For the game, Xavier made six three-pointers (Phillip Constantine Ong, Tiu, Ronald Chua, Sta. Maria, Julio Datu and Yao ) while CKS had none.

      Co, who is expected to be named the tournament's Most Valuable Player during pre-game ceremonies Thursday night, wound up with 15 points. The 6-3 Co suffered a mild sprain early in the fourth quarter, but is expected to play in Game Two. Three other Xaverians scored in double

figures - Phillip Constantine Ong, 13; Tiu, 11; and Tio, 10. Philmon Yao contributed seven markers.

      CKS's 6-4 Alexander Wong collected 24 points (including 8-of-14 from the foul line) and his Twin Towers duo, 6-6 Justin Chua, registered a triple-double with 12 points (only three on 3-of-8 FT shooting in the first half, 6-of-11 FT clip overall), 17 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.

      Xavier is bidding to win its sixth Juniors Division title in the Tiong Lian competitions. It won in 1972, 1998, 2002, and 2003. Chiang Kai Shek, holder of 13 championships, last captured the crown in 1995.

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