IAM 98 on Friday snapped an eight-game losing streak after routing Alumni 1993, 60-43, in the 8th XUHS-ABA Basketball Tournament at the Xavier University Main Campus covered courts.
Red-hot Abelou Sanchez sizzled for 17 points to lead Batch 1998 in breaking the losing curse.
Sanchez drew an able support from Ryan Yacapin, Milber Alinas, Mike Daming and Reagan “XU Sakuragi” Abbu.
“We needed to bounce back despite lacking key members in the team,” said team manager John Victor Ocampo.
The win is just 98’s second in 12 outings this season, making them the cellar-dweller in the St. Peter Faber Cup division.
They needed to sweep the remaining five games to get a chance in the top four playoffs.
Batch 1993, on the other hand, is also last in the St. Francis Xavier Cup division with 3-9 win-loss record.
In other results, Elich Alfante scored a game-high 26 points to power XUHS 1996 to a 76-66 win against 1992.
With the win, the 96ers improved to 4-9 good for fifth place in the Faber Cup and is an inch away against fourth placer 1999, which has a 5-8 ledger.
“Paningkamotan namo nga makasulod mi sa top-4,” said Alfante.
Renato Nacalaban had 14 points that was enough for Batch 2002 to beat Alumni 2006, 58-50.
XUHS 2000 defeated 1991, 55-45.