Defending champion University of St. La Salle and St. John's Institute posted victories against different opponents to arrange a championship showdown in the NOPSSCEA aspirants boys' basketball tournament at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School over the weekend.

The Troy Sarabia-mentored La Sallians drubbed BTTHS, 75-45, in the first semifinal encounter, while SJI nipped Mansilingan Christian Academy, 105-99.

USLS and St. John's also forged a title clash in the elementary boys' division after beating their respective rivals in the semifinal round Saturday.

The Baby Stingers trounced Tay Tung, 72-63, while SJI demolished the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, 73-35.

Luis Alfonso dela Paz led La Salles's aspirants team after scoring 10 points, while Jovito Caesar Sayson picked up 8 markers.

Diminutive Romar Galvez paced BTTHS with 19 points as Luis Martin Genobata chipped in 8 points.

Spearheading the offensive attack of the aspirants squad of SJI was Raymund Lacson as he exploded for 40 points. Backstopping Lacson was Brian Coo after pouring in 24 markers.

Johnson Española amassed 40 points for Mansilingan but it went down the drain with the lloss, while Jibb Montepio contributed 17 points.

In the elementary category, La Sallians James Anthony Golez and Lester Lloyd Laya registered 13 and 10 points, respectively, to power their squad to the victory and spoil the 47-point explosion of Tay Tung's Mitzi Banhao.

Allen Dionela topscored for SJI with 19 points as Jadd Gonzales added 10 markers. Pacing UNO-R was Greg Gayona who canned 14 points, while Carl Magbanua chipped in 9 points. *CIT

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