Red Cubs, Stallions score, nail q’final spots

NCAA champion San Beda and Xavier School scored impressive wins anew over the weekend to roll into the quarterfinal round of the 4th Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championships (PSSBC) Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Cup at San Beda Gym in Manila.

Showing the form that nailed for them a record seven successive NCAA title, the San Beda Red Cubs whipped the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs, 89-72, to complete a two-game sweep of Group D eliminations.

San Beda scuttled former champion Hope Christian High School, 88-74, in the opener last Saturday.

In a followup to their thrilling 84-81 win over the NCAA runners-up Arellano University Braves, the Xavier Stallions bested the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws, 74-64, thanks to another nifty shooting by Tyler Tio.

With their back-to-back wins, San Beda and Xavier secured the first two quarterfinal berths in the tournament sponsored by Dickies Underwear, Freego, Ironcon Builders, MEC Networks, Hapee Toothpaste, Blackwater Sports and Rain or Shine with Molten as official ball.

De La Salle Zobel also made a rousing debut, blasting Manila Patriotic School, 105-55, behind Aljun Melecio, Nathan Cosejo and Miguel Fortuna.

One of the leading scorers in the UAAP, Melecio led his squad with 12 points, 9 assists and seven boards.

Meantime, Mapua welcomed the return of NCAA MVP Mike Enriquez with an 84-79 win over Adamson to stay in contention for a quarterfinal berth.

Enriquez missed the previous outing of the Red Robins who bowed to the Chiang Kai Shek College Blue Dragons, 77-56, last Saturday.