Hope, Lyceum hurdle Freego Cup rivals

Games today (Buddhacare gym, Q.C.) 10:30 a.m. – Arellano vs St. Jude 12:30 p.m. – LSGH vs UPHDS 2 :15 p.m. – HCHS vs JRU

Hope Christian High School and Lyceum carved out victories in varying fashions to close out their elimination round campaigns in the ninth PCABL (Philippine Chinese Amateur Basketball League) Freego Cup at the Philippine Buddhacare Academy gym in Quezon City last weekend.

Marvel Jimenez drilled in five triples as Hope Christian trampled University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, 86-70, to finish the Group B elims with a 5-2 card – the same record posted by the Junior Pirates who eked out a 99-96 overtime win over the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws.

Jimenez went on to finish with 27 points to earn his Freego Best Player of the Game award for the first time in the tournament supported by Smart, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Hapee Toothpaste, Insular Square (Cebu), and New Pioneer Auto Supply (Cebu).

Generoso Cecilio took charge for the Junior Pirates in extra play, scoring eight points while Leejan Salazar led the team with 22 markers.

JJ Sapanit scored 24 points for the Baby Tamaraws who wound up with a 2-5 card in Group A topped by University of the Philippines (5-2).

Multi-titled Chiang Kai Shek finished second in Group A with an 86-65 drubbing of Jose Rizal University while reigning UAAP champion National University emerged Group B topnotcher due to its superior quotient over Adamson.

Both teams finished the elims with 6-1 records.