St. Jude, JCA gain outright semis in PCYAA

MANILA, Philippines - Saint Jude Catholic School dumped Pace Academy, 107-32, to cap its dominant elimination round campaign even as Jubilee Christian Academy swept its last three games to clinch the other outright semis berth in the Juniors Division of the second Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association (PCYAA) basketball tournament at the Uno High School Gym in Tondo, Manila recently.

The Judenites played without flu-stricken hotshot Renzel Yongco but still won by a rout as 14 players fielded in by coach Luis Nolasco made it to the scoring column, including five in double digits. Maynard Yap led the attack with 16 points and seven steals.

Daniel Pua also tallied 15 points and eight boards while Earl See, Christian Carlos and Calvin Uy combined for 34 points as the Judenites completed a seven-game sweep of the elims that gave them a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.

Jubilee also won convincingly, beating Saint Peter the Apostle School, 68-54, to tie idle Philippine Cultural College at 5-2.

JCA, however, emerged as the No. 2 team due to the winner-over-the-other rule, thus earning an automatic semis berth plus a twice-to-beat bonus.