HUA Siong College of Iloilo edged closer to clinching the first-ever championship with their recent victory over Lamtex Pipes. Fil-Chinese Athletics Association Incorporated (FCAI) In the 40s division, they secured a dominant 69-52 win against Xavier School-Acrocity x Zhoosh on Monday evening at PlayTime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
Ken Bono ignited during the dynamic third quarter surge for Hua Siong, scoring 11 out of his total 26 points in an impressive 19-3 run. This turnaround shifted the momentum from a 34-32 deficit to a commanding 51-37 lead just 34 seconds before the end of the period.
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Bono secured 13 rebounds and added two assists as well. James Yap With his impressive performance of 22 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, he kept his team’s dream of an undefeated season alive in this alumni league where PGFlex Linoleum, Cellboy, Triangle Tires, Jiang Nan, BYD Valenzuela, Powerhouse Tools, Hangry Pares, Genius, and Lamtex Pipes serve as co-sponsors.
The two ex-UAAP MVPs carried the team under Coach Denok Miranda’s guidance, as crucial players like Leo Canuday and Rhagnee Sinco were restricted to only four points each.
Hua Siong has the chance to clinch the best-of-three series in Game Two on Wednesday, remaining at the same location.
PHOTO: FCAAI
However, it didn't come without some opposition.
As anticipated, Xavier depended heavily on Chris Tiu and Joseph Yeo, but they both only managed to score 14 points each and together hit an underwhelming 10 out of 36 shots from the field with just six rebounds between them.
Eldridge Liao put forth his best effort to lend support and managed to score 11 points, grab seven rebounds, and contribute two assists in the defeat.
In the meantime, Patterson Ngo came through for St. Stephen’s High School-SCAG as they secured the bronze medal with a narrow 63-62 win against Grace Christian College-Goodfellow Pharma.
He scored the go-ahead putback for St. Stephen’s with 10.6 seconds left off a Christian Luanzon’s missed three for the biggest of his six points in the one-game battle for third.
Despite having an opportunity to claim victory, Grace missed three crucial attempts near the hoop. Alex Lao managed to score with a last-second tip-in just as the clock ran out.
Luanzon led St. Stephen’s with 26 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals, Jefferson Ong contributed 13 points along with four rebounds, and Arthur Tiu scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Alvin Bryan Lim led Grace with 16 points and eight rebounds, whereas Albert Edsel Chua narrowly missed out on a triple-double, scoring 13 points, dishing 10 assists, and grabbing seven boards in their hard-fought loss.
The scores:
Battle for Third:
SSHS - SCAG 63 - Luanzon 26, Ong 13, Tiu 11, Ngo 6, H. Ng 5, Go 2, Gaw 0, Ching 0, Ngo 0, Lee 0, R. Ng 0, V. Ng 0.
GCC - Goodfellow Pharma 62 - A. Lim 16, A. Chua 13, Lao 10, C. Chua 8, Tan 4, R. Lim 4, E. Lim 3, Dy 2, Quan 2, Sanidad 0, Ong 0.
Quarters: 20-14, 33-26, 53-48, 63-62.
Finals Game One
HSCI - LAMTEX Pipes 69 - Bono 26, Yap 22, Villegas 6, Sinco 4, Canuday 4, Allado 3, Teneso 3, Chiong 1, Barcellano 0, Rizaga 0, Chiong 0, Tan 0, Cua 0, Tee 0, Uy 0.
AAXS - ACROCITY X ZHOOSH 52 - Yeo 14, Tiu 14, Liao 11, Go 5, J. Chua 4, Ng 3, Tio 1, Sioco 0, P. Chua 0, Chu 0, Noel 0, Alabanza 0.
Quarters: 16-18, 32-32, 51-40, 69-52.