The picture is getting clearer as to which teams will make it to the knockout quarterfinal round of the 9th Baden Powell Cup Basketball Tournament 2012.

Defending champion Chiang Kai Shek College posted two more wins over the weekend, trampling St. Peter the Apostle School, 94-55, last January 14 and erstwhile unbeaten Elyseum Christian School, 88-65, the day after. The Blazing Dragons will face winless Philippine Pasay Chung Hua Academy on January 22, the last day of the elimination round.

Title-contender Hope Christian High School proved too much for Philippine Academy of Sakya, easily defeating the latter, 84-41, despite the absence of key players Cedric Lagamayo, Jeffrey Siybauco, and Mark Joseph Nunez, all members of the school’s junior team that joined the opening ceremony of the 42nd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Tournament held simultaneously with the game. With the win, Hope Campers remained the only unbeaten team in their bracket.

Grace Christian College finally notched its first BP Cup win in three years after defeating Philadelphia High School, 44-30, last Saturday. It was sweet victory for GCC as it was held on their home turf, drawing a throng of supporters composed of school officials, teachers, and students of the school.

St. Stephen’s High School finally earned a win after three outings with a squeaker over Philippine Pasay Chung Hua Academy, 67-65. Despite the win, the Stephenians need to secure victory on its last two games to make it to the next phase of competition.

Republic Institute lost a tight match to Elyseum Christian School, 62-66, last Saturday, but readily bounced back into contention with a convincing win over St. Peter the Apostle School, 76-65. The same fate happened to Philippine Tiong Se Academy, which is host to many games, as it lost its Saturday game to Philippine Cultural College, 41-74, but shackled Philadelphia High School, 99-15, the next day.

Sakya also claimed another win last Sunday, shellacking Grace Christian College, 84-30.

The elimination round ends on January 22, with the top four teams of each bracket facing opponents from the other group in single knock-out games to determine the final four contenders.