HOPE Christian High School lost to National University-B, 84-83, on Friday at the Treston Gym and failed in its bid for a return trip to the championship game of the Seaoil-NBTC High School National High School Championship.
The Tiong Lian side that won the 2013 crown shockingly bowed to the NU Bullpups-B to finish the preliminaries winless in Group A after bowing to Chiang Kai Shek College.
Hope’s defeat assured a new finalist in this year’s tournament as 2013 champion and Arvin Tolentino-led San Beda College failed to even make it to the tournament proper after losing in the qualifiers.
In other games at the Ynares Sports Arena, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu advanced to the quarterfinals despite losing in the opener as it romped past St. Francis of Assisi-Cavite, 91-47.
University of San Carlos Cebu beat West Negros University-Bacolod, 70-66, to also barge into the semifinals with a 1-1 record.
The quarterfinal matches are slated on Saturday morning.
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