UPIS cagers boot out Xavier 5

University of the Phils. Integrated School cut Xavier School down to size with an emphatic 76-55 victory, sweeping its elimination round assignment in Group B and towing Mapua into the next round of the Sunkist Youth Basketball Championship at the Makati Stadium yesterday.

The lopsided victory averted a possible three-way tie in Group B with the Red Robins benefiting from it by advancing to the next round after closing out with a 2-1 (win-loss) mark with an 82-62 romp over University of San Jose-Recoletos earlier.

Faith Academy clobbered Adamson, 76-57, to likewise complete its sweep of Group C with San Sebastian clinching the other quarterfinal berth by beating Sacred Heart, 68-59.

Marvin Cruz exploded for 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the perimeter while knocking all but three of his 14 attempts from the line for the Diliman-based team.

In a duel of fancied teams and early qualifiers, Letran toppled Ateneo de Manila, 73-62, to top Group D via a similar sweep and join UPIS in Group II in the quarterfinal round which will also include the second placers in Groups A and C.

The other qualifiers were San Beda and Ateneo de Davao in Group A with the former outclassing the latter, 90-45, at the close of the elims.

The eight-day event, sponsored by Sunkist and supported by Air Philippines, Purefoods, Alaska, Molten, Burlington, Pagcor, Petron, Agfa, Photoplus and P.J. Lhuillier, takes a break today with the chase for the semis berths resuming tomorrow.

With its second straight loss, Xavier, which dropped a heart-breaking 52-55 decision to Mapua Friday, was relegated to the consolation pool.