Red Cubs, Staglets hurdle UAAP rivals

MANILA, Philippines — NCAA powerhouse San Beda scraped past National U but newly crowned UAAP titlist Far Eastern U-Diliman was ambushed by San Sebastian College in the second day of the 1st Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) Sunday at Chiang Kai Shek College gym.

Getting big games from NCAAFinals MVP Jayvee Mocon and PH U-18 standout Arvie Tolentino and Alejandro Iñigo, the Red Cubs, 20-time NCAA titlists, beat the NU Bullpups, 71-66, to remain unbeaten in Group B.

Iñigo topscored with 17 points, including seven in the payoff period, while Tolentino, hero in San Beda’s 95-91 win over Hope Christian High School in the opener last Saturday, added 14.

The day, however, belonged to the Staglets, who stunned the Baby Tamaraws, 66-58, to stay unscathed in Group A.

FEU coach Raymund Valenzona said the combined efforts of Alfren Gayosa, Michael Calisaan, Jon Macasaet and Onyok Velasco Jr. compensated for their only one week of preparation for the event.

Valenzona drew 16 points from Gayosa and a combined 16 points from Velasco and Macasaet.

Valenzona was also pleased with the return of Macasaet, who missed San Sebastian’s NCAA Finals loss to San Beda due to chicken pox.

In other games, Xavier became the first team from Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association (MMTLBA) to barge into the win column by downing Ateneo, 87-80. University of Santo Tomas edged Letran, 69-68, in another thriller.

San Beda, UST and San Sebastian thus moved closer toward quarterfinal berths in the event sponsored by Wrangler, Welcoat House Paints, Ironcon Builders, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Dickies Underwear, MEC Networks, Blackwater Sports and Hapee Toothpaste.

FEU star Jerie Pingoy was held to just eight points, a far cry from his 22-point performance in their opening day win over Chiang Kai Shek last Saturday.

The FEU-CKSC game will be aired on Basketball TV (Channel 34) tomorrow at 11 p.m. through the sponsorship of Davies Paints and Bon Chon Chicken.

The top four squads after the elimination of the 10-team league will advance to the quarterfinals.