Chiang Kai Shek College and St. Stephen’s High School hurdled their respective semi-final opponents in contrasting fashion last January 31 to arrange yet another finals showdown in the 6th Baden Powell Cup Basketball Tournament. For the third straight year, CKSC and SSHS will meet for the crown in a best-of-three finals scenario, with the former emerging victorious in the last two years.

Chiang Kai Shek College and St. Stephen’s High School hurdled their respective semi-final opponents in contrasting fashion last January 31 to arrange yet another finals showdown in the 6th Baden Powell Cup Basketball Tournament. For the third straight year, CKSC and SSHS will meet for the crown in a best-of-three finals scenario, with the former emerging victorious in the last two years.

More popularly known as the BP Cup, the annual tournament is staged by the Filipino-Chinese Scout Club, with the Rotary Club of Bagumbayan Manila, Pro-Ad Marketing Communications, Hammerhead Jeans and Shirts, E-Signal Marketing, Senator Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Marikina Congressman Del R. de Guzman supporting this year’s tourney. The competition is named after Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden Powell, who founded the World Scouting movement in 1907.

Powered by Accel Sports, Burlington Socks, Steelhaus Marketing, Lamps and Lights, New Maxima Tire Supply and DC-Trio, the CKSC Blazing Scout Dragons walloped Philippine Pasay Chung Hua Academy (PPCHA), 124-24, as it served notice of its bid for a fourth straight crown in the annual tournament. The 3-Peat defending champions put the cuff on PPCHA’s main man, Calvin Tyron Chan, right from the opening buzzer to start with a 10-1 blast and never looked back from then on.

In the other semi-final game, St. Stephen’s High School nipped Quezon City Christian Academy, 82-80, in overtime to earn the second finals berth. The Stephenians led by as much as 12 points with a little over five minutes left in regulation time, but the QCCA Saints slowly chopped the margin down and forced the game extension through its dynamic trio of Justin Gan, Don Alvin Klinton Tan, and Russ Depare. In overtime, however, the Stephenians took control of the game by building an early 5-point margin. With less than 30 seconds left, QCCA playmaker Gan shot a 3-point trey as his team came within 2 points, but the Stephenians wisely used up the remaining time to win the game. Louie Jefferson Espejo led the winning team with a game high 28 points.

Game 1 of the best-of-3 finals will be held this Saturday, 10:30AM at the SSHS gym.