XAVIER School-Acrocity x Zhoosh shot the lights out in a huge 73-69 Game Two stunner of Hua Siong College of Iloilo-Lamtex Pipes on Wednesday night at the PlayTime Filoil Centre in San Juan to force the winner-take-all match for the Fil-Chinese Athletic Association Inc. (FCAAI) 40s Division title.
Eldridge Liao proved to be the unlikely hero for Xavier, draining four triples in the fourth quarter, none bigger than his three from way out with 4.4 seconds left that made it a two-possession game and extend the best-of-three series to a decider.
Tiu, Yeo turn back clock
Liao actually scored all of his 18 points from downtown which was part of a sizzling 14-of-45 three-point shooting for AAXS which dealt Hua Siong its first ever defeat in the inaugural staging of the alumni league which has PGFlex Linoleum, Cellboy, Triangle Tires, Jiang Nan, BYD Valenzuela, Powerhouse Tools, Hangry Pares, Genius, and Lamtex Pipes serving as co-presentors.
Chris Tiu fired nine of his 20 points in the payoff period to add to his seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals, as Joseph Yeo added 22 points, six boards, and six dimes before fouling out with 40.7 ticks left.
They will try to replicate that hot shooting come Game Three on Friday, still in the same venue.
James Yap was the lone bright spot for Hua Siong, coming off the bench to pace the crew with 23 points on 4-of-11 shooting from distance, on top of five rebounds and four assists as the Ilonggo side squandered an early 17-point lead to taste their first loss in 12 games.
It was a rather forgettable showing for the HSCI supporting cast on a night where Yap, together with Ken Bono, Leo Canuday, and Rhagnee Sinco were named to the Mythical First Team. The trio combined for a measly 20 points on a forgettable 8-of-20 shooting while accounting for six of their team's 18 errors.
Christian Luanzon of St. Stephen's High School-SCAG was named as the 40s Division Tournament MVP earlier in the night, while Joseph Chua of AAXS-Acrocity x Zhoosh, Arthur Tiu of SSHS-SCAG, Sean Co and Christian Li of Chiang Kai Shek College-Big Chill, and Tom Cu of Uno High School-CW Home Depot comprised the Mythical Second Team.
The scores:
AAXS - ACROCITY X ZHOOSH 73 - Yeo 22, Tiu 20, Liao 18, J. Chua 8, Sioco 3, P. Chua 2, Ng 0, Go 0, Syiaco 0, Chu 0.
HSCI - LAMTEX PIPES 69 - Yap 23, Allado 12, Teneso 8, Bono 7, Sinco 7, Canuday 6, Barcellano 3, Villegas 2, Rizaga 1.
Quarters: 15-25, 30-41, 47-51, 73-69.
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