Defending Juniors Division titlist Xavier School outclassed host Uno High School, 116-63, Wednesday night (Jan. 28) to pick up its fifth straight victory in the 39th Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association tournament held at the Uno Gym.

In a game they led all throughout, the Golden Stallions bucked Jeric Teng’s early foul problems behind the shooting of Ian Umali, Kevin Lim, Jose Anton Manuel, Nel Jefferson Lim and Donal Ong.

Umali drew first blood (2-0) and Xavier jumped to a 28-20 advantage. Teng got his third foul midway through the second period when Uno came within five points, 32-27.

Although Jeric was limited to a measly eight markers, the shocktroopers, led by Manuel, Jeron Teng and the two Lims, proved equal to the task and even increased the Gold and Blue’s advantage to 15 (49-34) at halftime.

Uno, which lost for the second time in five appearances, showed little life in the second half as Jeric opened the third period with 14 straight points on 5-for-5 field shooting (including 3-for-3 from beyond the three-point arc) to open a commanding 63-34 advantage for coach Lito Vergara’s troops.

It was 87-49 after three quarters. Though the Uneans got the first basket of the payoff period, Xavier went on a 14-0 rampage once again to post a 50-point edge, 101-51.

The biggest lead for Xavier was 116-61 (55 points) before Uno’s Michael Reyes closed out the lopsided contest with a layup.

In a display of balanced scoring, 13 players made at least two points for Xavier School in the second half.

Jeric fouled out midway through the fourth quarter but still finished with 27 points and nine rebounds. He was 9-for-24 from the field (including four threes in the second half) and 5-for-7 from the charity stripes.

Five other Xaverians scored in double digits – Umali, 16 (along with 10 rebounds); Donal Ong, 14 (including four threes), Kevin Lim, 11; Manuel (along with eight rebounds and seven assists); and Jefferson Lim, 10. Jeron Teng added seven points.

Uno got 23 points from Michael Reyes, 15 from Mark Ronald Chua (7-for-13 from the foul line, all in the second half) and seven each from Oliver Rocafor, Vince Revillosa and Raymond Cailles. Playmaker Isaac Lim had only two markers (2-for-4 from the free-throw line) but collected eight boards and six assists.

In the only other game Wednesday night, St. Stephen’s High School (2-3) broke a two-game losing with a 51-49 upset of Grace Christian College (3-2), which suffered back-to-back setbacks following a 3-0 start.

SSHS team captain Clyde Aparicio grabbed eight boards and scattered 11 of his 16 points in the final 20 minutes as the Stephenians overcame a 27-23 halftime deficit.

After Lawrence Anthony Chua gave Grace Christian a 41-40 lead on a pair of free throws, Keno Chua had a basket and Aparicio knocked in a three to put SSHS ahead, 45-41.

Christian So, Grace Christian’s No. 1 scorer with a 20-point clip, converted on a trifecta (his first points of the game) as Grace came within one, 47-46, 3:12 minutes remaining.

Three-point artist Joseph Uy and Keno Chua scored four straight points and St. Stephen’s opened up a 51-46 margin with a minute left.

A visibly off-form So sealed Grace’s downfall by going just 1-for-4 from the foul line in the closing seconds.

Aparicio topscored for SSHS with 16 points, followed by Keno Chua and Wesley Ang with nine apiece, and Sean Teng with eight.

Grace was led by LA Chua with 16 points and Kurt Chua with 23. Big man Justin Ngo hauled down 10 rebounds but scored just six markers. So was held to four points.

Friday night (Jan. 30) at the Uno Gym, Chiang Kai Shek College (2-2) goes up against St. Stephen’s High School (2-2) and Xavier School (5-0) seeks a sweep of the elimination-round phase when it faces a listless St. Jude Catholic School (1-4) team that has dropped its last four assignments.

In the final playdate of the elimination round on Saturday night (Jan. 31), Uno High School will clash with Hope Christian High School (1-4) and Chiang Kai Shek College will tangle with Grace Christian College (3-2).

All seven schools will qualify for the playoffs.

Topnotcher Xavier School has gained an automatic berth into the semifinals armed with a twice-to-beat incentive. The six other teams play in the quarterfinals featuring the following matchups: No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5, with Nos. 2, 3 and 4 enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage.

In the semifinals, Xavier will meet the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 series and the second-placer (assuming it wins in the quarterfinals) will face the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 series.

The best-of-three championship series between the semifinal victors will be played on Feb. 17 and 20 and, if necessary, Feb. 23.