Teng comes to the rescue as Xavier five foils CKSC

MANILA, Philippines –World Youth Olympic Games veteran Jeron Teng struggled early but came through with successive clutch baskets as “five-peat”-seeking Xavier School outlasted arch-rival Chiang Kai Shek College, 71-66, at the start Saturday of the 42nd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Championships at the Uno High School gym.

Faced with the specter of losing their opening game for the first time in five years, the Golden Stallions went to the 6-foot-1 Teng who responded with a power play to put Xavier back in front, 67-66, with 1:12 left.

After CKSC bungled its play on the other end, the reigning back-to-back MVP struck again on another drive with 30 seconds left and lifted a weight off Xavier
coach Budd Reyes’ shoulders.

The Blue Dragons had the chance to tie the game but Kimlee Bayquin airballed a three-point shot with six seconds left.

Jarrel Lim, who finished with eight points, hit two charities to seal the deal for Xavier in the tournament presented by Regan Industrials Sales Inc. and World Balance.

Teng finished with 24 points despite a disappointing 9-of-28 shooting. The future La Salle player also had seven rebounds.

Unlike Xavier, already the winner of 10 league titles, Hope Christian High School cruised to a 71-39 victory over St. Stephen’s High School while Uno High outlasted host Grace Christian College, 49-47.

In the Aspirants division, St. Stephen beat Hope Christian, 63-47, Xavier downed Grace Christian, 89-27, and CKSC whipped St. Jude Catholic School, 101-41.
Mark Nuñez, who scored 60 points in an Aspirants game last season, scored a team-high 11 points in 18 minutes in his Juniors debut with Hope.