Xavier edges LSGH, Ateneo, enters quarters

MANILA, Philippines - Xavier School edged La Salle Greenhills-SBP, 44-42, and later turned back Ateneo, 55-46, to remain unscathed and clinch the first quarterfinals seat in the 11-under age class of  Got Skills Basketball Showdown Season Two at the St. Jude and Xavier gyms.

Ryley Jacey Tuason led the Xavier dribblers in the win over the Greenies by firing 15 points while Jacob Alexander Tan Lai poured in 16 against the Eaglets for the two wins that stretched their amazing streak to five.

Ateneo and La Salle Greenhills Paya, for their part, advanced to the round-of-eight in the 13-under section after hacking out a pair of victories to likewise stay unbeaten in four games in this tournament sponsored by No Curfew Watch Store, Wize & Ope Watch, Chris Sports, Skiz and Fitness and Athletics.

Ateneo routed LSGH-SBP, 58-32, and Xavier, 62-33, on the strength of John Carlos Fetalvero’s 12 points and Miguel Sahali’s 11 markers while LSGH Paya slammed St. Jude, 56-39 and Chiang Kai Shek, 70-58, with John Benedict Rigor doing most of the damage by exploding for a combined 37 points in both outings.

In the 15-under bracket, Chiang Kai Shek leaned on John Raphael Tibayan’s heroics as it eked out squeakers over National U, 52-50, and University of Santo Tomas, 38-36, to roll to their fourth straight win and into the quarters.

There, it will be joined by San Beda Taytay and LSGH A, which also pulled off a couple of victories to remain undefeated in four assignments.

The Red Cubs trounced Xavier, 59-47, with John Mark Lagumen scattering 11 points, and LSGH B, 46-32, while LSGH A flattened Colegio San Agustin, 60-16, and overcame a gutsy Ateneo, 42-41.

AMA also made its presence felt in the 17-under category as it dumped San Beda Alabang, 75-53, and outlasted College of San Benildo-Rizal, 72-71, for its third consecutive win with John Russell Fuentes erupting for 24 points in the first game and 22 in the second in a couple of strong performances.

Austin Tansiongkun unloaded 20 points in carrying Xavier to a 76-58 rout of Ateneo Prada and then quickly buckled down to work the next game by uncorking 22 markers in a 73-40 waylaying of Ateneo Paya to zoom to the lead in the same division with four wins.

Other results: (17-under) COSB-R d. St. Jude 66-56, Ateneo Paya d. San Beda Alabang, 74-69, (15-under) Ateneo d. St. Francis Manila 92-41, COSB-R d. Xavier, 56-45, UST d. St. Francis, 66-51, Chiang Kai Shek d. UST, 38-36, LSGH B d. COSB-R, 51-41. and SFS d. CSA, 57-42.