St. Stephen’s, two others gain in Tiong Lian opener

MANILA, Philippines - Host St. Stephen’s High School, defending champion Chiang Kai Shek College and fancied Xavier School defeated their rivals  in the opener of the 43rd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association-BonChon Chicken Juniors Championship at the CKSC gym in Manila last weekend.
With Jayson Jimenez, John Gallego and Kimlee Bayquin taking charge in the clutch, the reigning titlists rallied from a 22-point deficit in the second quarter to beat Hope Christian College, 80-76, in a rematch of last year’s finals.

Jimenez scattered 10 of his team-high 17 points in a big 16-0 run that put CKSC to within seven, 41-48, and set the tone for an exciting finish in the featured match of a three-game schedule in the country’s premier Fil-Chinese schools league.

Gallego finished with 15 markers, including a triple that tied the count at 67. Bayquin and Al Salim also came through at crunchtime with the former knocking down four crucial charities in the last 43.5 seconds.
The Stephenians and the Golden Stallions, dominated their respective rivals in the event backed by Solar Basketball TV, Molten and Summit Water.

The host squad clamped down on St. Jude’s top gunners  for a 56-38 win.  The Golden Stallions blasted Grace Christian College, 114-44.The Stephenians held the Judenites to just three points in the third quarter while exploding for 17 points behind Pierce Chan (19) and Kyle Chua (11).
The Golden Stallions drew 37 points, six rebounds and three steals from Kyles Lao and 26 points, 11 assists from Jarrell Lim.