Xavier stuns NU, forges title duel with San Beda

Xavier School sustained its giant-killing run by downing reigning UAAP champion National University, 79-75, Sunday to arrange a title showdown with NCAA champion San Beda in the 3rd Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) Ironcon Builders Cup at Chiang Kai Shek College in Tondo, Manila.

With Tyler Tio, Kyle Ong and Ralph Cu combining for four triples in a fiery 17-2 attack, the Xavier Stallions rallied from a 62-52 deficit to forge ahead, 69-64.

NU managed to regain the lead, 71-69, on a 7-0 run, but Tio buried his second triple of the quarter to finally take the fight out of the Bullpups.

In a fitting followup to his 28-point performance in the team’s 77-72 win over title favorite Chiang Kai Shek College last Saturday, Tio led the Stallions 20 points.

Ong and Cu added 17 and 12 points, respectively.

In the other semifinal game, the Red Cubs 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 one-game final this Saturday, also at CKSC gym.

San Beda nearly squandered a 13-point advantage in the first half as FEU rallied to within 50-47 going into the final 10 minutes.

But Diputado and Caracut came to the team’s rescue, coming through with tough plays in a 9-3 assault to scuttle FEU’s comeback bid.

Abatayo led the Red Cubs with 14 points and talled 15 boards and five assists.

Apart from Ironcon Builders, also backing the event are Rain or Shine, Hapee Toothpaste, Blackwater-Ever Bilena, Dickies Underwear, MEC Computers, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, and Freego.