Xavier 5 surprises San Beda in Milo tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Xavier School stunned fancied San Beda, 82-76, in overtime to rule the Passerelle division of the Milo-sponsored Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training National Capital Region tournament at the Xavier gym in San Juan over the weekend.

But the host school’s bid for a golden double was thwarted by defending champion Ateneo in the Small Basketeers Philippines finals with Jolo Mendoza leading the Katipunan-based squad to a 59-57 win and a fourth straight championship.

Mendoza scored the game winner en route to 21 points and was named the SBP Most Valuable Player.

Deposed champion La Salle Greenhills routed School of St. Anthony, 72-32, for third place in the Passerelle class while De La Salle-Zobel also whipped Marist School 48-28 for third in the SBP division.

Playing before a sizeable crowd clad in red and yellow that included former President Joseph Estrada, the Stallions clamped down on the Red Cubs’ top guns in the extra period and banked on the gutsy plays of their role players to improve on their third-place finish last year.

Ateneo and Xavier earned the right to represent NCR in the national finals on Nov. 19-22 in Cebu City. The Visayas regional finals will be held on Oct. 5-8 in Roxas City; the Luzon regional finals on Oct. 15-18 in Baguio and Pampanga; and the Mindanao finals on Nov. 5-8 in Davao City.

Juan Susmerano and Gian Go took over in the extra period and led a 9-6 Xavier blitz, asserting their will in the paint.