Iloilo’s Hua Siong takes down Xavier, bags Fil-Chi hoops crown

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The coronation is complete.

After dropping the nail-biting Game 1 showdown, Hua Siong College of Iloilo came through with a massive reverse sweep, dominating Xavier School in the do-or-die Game 3, 72-57, to win the Fil-Chinese Athletic Association Inc.’s 40-and-over division championship at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on July 31, 2026.

Former two-time PBA MVP and living legend James Yap made up for a dismal Game 2 outing and came out piping hot as the Hua Siong alumnus and pride of Escalante, Negros Occidental, capped the championship series with a much-needed 23-point performance.

Yap, who contributed only nine points on 3-of-20 shooting in Game 2, set the tone for Hua Siong with his impeccable offensive display, especially in the third quarter, when the Lamtex Pipes-backed squad pulled away with a double-digit lead.

Xavier kept it close in the first half, leaning on the one-two punch of Joseph Yeo and Bon Syiaco, who managed to turn back the hands of time when Hua Siong attempted to break the game wide open in the second quarter.

However, Hua Siong’s depth and balanced player rotation took effect in the third quarter, as the trio of Ken Bono, Rhagnee Sinco, and tournament MVP Jaypee Belencion joined hands to build a commanding 59-43 lead.

Xavier tried to inch closer by opting for a man-to-man defense, but Hua Siong’s unpredictable offensive sets proved to be too much in the final frame.

Bono backstopped Yap’s bounce-back Game 3 masterclass with a dominant double-double of 20 points and 16 rebounds.

After arriving late in Game 2 due to a prior league commitment, the savvy big man turned things around in the rubber match and never missed a step after the opening buzzer sounded.

San Miguel’s Sinco and Zaragga’s Belencion picked up where they left off, chipping in nine points each to help Hua Siong retain the Fil-Chi 40-and-over title.

On the other hand, Xavier suffered a major blow for the second consecutive game as superstar and former PBA guard Chris Tiu missed Game 3 with a hamstring injury he sustained in the Game 1 victory.

Syiaco tried his best to keep Game 3 a nip-and-tuck affair after pacing Xavier with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Yeo added 12 points.

What an incredible back-to-back championship run for the Ilonggo hoopers. After having their backs against the wall with a 0-1 deficit, Hua Siong displayed poise under pressure to win the remaining games in style. A heart of a champion indeed.