San Beda, Xavier dispute PSSBC title

Games tomorrow (CKSC gym, Tondo)

1 p.m. – FEU vs NU (for 3rd)

2:30 p.m. – San Beda vs Xavier

MANILA, Philippines - Xavier School and San Beda gear up for a battle royale as they dispute the third Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) Ironcon Builders Cup crown at the Chiang Kai Shek College in Tondo, Manila tomorrow.

Hardly noticed in the buildup to the annual meet of top teams from the UAAP, NCAA and Metro Manila Tiong Lian League – the Stallions dispatched champion teams Chiang Kai Shek College and National University one after another to arrange a title showdown with the Red Cubs.

Gametime is set at 2:30 p.m. with both teams looking confident to nail the crown.

Aside from the sweet-shooting Tyler Tio, the Carlo Tan-mentored Xavier School can also count on Kyle Ong and Ralph Cu whose triples late in the game helped the Stallions beat the reigning UAAP champions Bullpups, 79-75.

Tan knows beating a championship-caliber team like San Beda would need a lot of hard work but he’s confident his wards are up to the task.

Xavier, on the other hand, is hoping to become the second Fil-Chinese school to win the event after Hope Christian High School ruled the inaugural staging in 2012.

San Beda, however, is out on a mission.

The Red Cubs, who reached the finals after downing the Far Eastern University Baby Tams, 61-57, are aching to redeem themselves after losing to the San Sebastian Staglets in triple overtime, 108-102, last year.