CKSC, Hope boost finals bids

DEFENDING champion Chiang Kai Shek College regained the solo lead while Hope Christian High School strengthened its finals bid in the 43rd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association-BonChon Chicken Championship at CKSC gym in Manila on Saturday.

Chiang Kai Shek trounced St. Jude Catholic School, 99-42, to improve to 6-1. It will eye the first finals slot tomorrow against second-running Xavier School.

However, Xavier, toting a 6-2 card, will advance to the finals first if it beats Chiang Kai Shek by at least five points.

John Apacible, meanwhile, delivered another inspired game as Hope Christian turned back Xavier, 72-64, to stay in third spot at 5-2.

The 6-foot-4 Apacible submitted a double-double performance for the second STANDINGS W Chiang KSC 6 Xavier 6 Hope CHS 5 St. Stephen 4 St. Jude 2 Grace CC 0 GAMES TOMORROW

(CKSC gym) 5:30 p.m.—CKSC

vs Xavier 7 p.m.—HCHS

vs St. Jude L 1 2 2 4 6 8 time, scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 boards to emerge as the BonChon Chicken Player of the Game for the third time.

The win was a fitting follow-up to Hope Christian’s 6763 win over Chiang Kai Shek.

Host St. Stephen’s High School reaffirmed its mastery over Grace Christian College, 70-56, in another game.

In the Aspirants Cup, Chiang Kai Shek trounced Xavier, 84-51, and moved within a win of completing a sweep of their bestof-three series in the league also backed by Solar BTV, Molten and Summit Water.