CKSC, St. Jude reach Tiong Lian semis

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-titled Chiang Kai Shek College and St. Jude Catholic School disposed of their respective rivals to advance to the Final Four of the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association (MMTBA) tournament at the Uno High School gym last Tuesday.

The Blue Dragons stamped their class early and fashioned out a 70-50 win over St. Stephen’s High School while the Judenites overpowered Uno High School, 67-53, to join outright qualifier Hope Christian High School in the semis.

The fourth and last semis seat will be disputed by No. 2 seed and four-time defending Xavier School and host Grace Christian College tomorrow.

Being the No. 1 seed team, Hope Christian enjoys a twice-to-beat advantage over St. Jude when they clash next week. Hope Christian is out to end a 19-year-title drought in the event presented by Regan Industrial Sales Inc. and World Balance.

If Xavier hurdles the host squad again, the Stallions will also gain a twice-to-beat edge against the Blue Dragons in the semis.

In beating the Stephenians, the Goldwin Monteverde-mentored Blue Dragons leaned on the troika of John Kevin Baytan John Nieles and Kimlee Bayquin while Jason Ligad fired 26 points for the Judenites.

In the Aspirants division of the event backed by Uratex, Burlington, Summit Drinking Water, 100 Plus, Supreme Steel Pipe, Superior Pipe, Ace Water Spa and Molten, No. 1 seed Chiang Kai Shek College and nine-time defending champion Xavier start their best-of-three title series on Saturday.

Meanwhile, defending girls champion St. Jude outlasted Uno HS, 69-63, in their knockout match to arrange a title duel with top seed Chiang Kai Shek College, also on Saturday.