Teng, Banal power Xavier to Tiong Lian title
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:04:00 02/23/2008
Filed Under: Sport, Basketball
AFTER PUTTING AN END TO THE league’s longest winning streak in memory, Xavier School finally snuffed the life out of Chiang Kai Shek’s championship repeat bid.
Jeric Teng and Gabriel Banal, future stars who share a rich basketball pedigree, powered Xavier to a 101-86 rout of bitter rival Chiang Kai Shek Friday to capture the 32nd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association crown at the UNO high school gym in Manila.
Teng and Banal, members of the Nokia-RP squad gearing up for the Southeast Asian Basketball Association junior wars in May, had their fingerprints all over the win as the talented duo stepped up from the perimeter to tow Xavier to a 10-point halftime lead before pouring on the heat in the final two periods to hammer out the rout.
Ironically, the two gunslingers are sons of former basketball enforcers.
The 6-foot-4 Banal is the son of former PBA star Joel Banal, known in his heydey as a import-hounder. The younger Banal showed a more all-around performance to finish with 23 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
The 6-foot-1 Teng, son of former San Miguel bruiser Alvin Teng, topscored for the Stallions with 27 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
The title was the seventh for Xavier in the tournament sponsored by Puma, Converse, Burlington, FG Jeans, Molten, Davies Paints, Healthy Options, and MEC Network.
The win was a sweet revenge for Xavier after losing their crown to Chiang Kai Shek last year. Bannered by Ateneo-bound Justine Chua, Chiang Kai Shek completed a sweep of the tournament last year.
The victory was a fitting send-off for Banal who is likely to play for La Salle in future UAAP wars, putting him on a collision course with Chua anew.
Chua ended his Tiong Lian career with 30 points and 13 rebounds.
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