Kyocera goes 2-0, Lexmark upsets Teletech in CSCC E-League

CEBU, Philippines - The Kyocera Frontiers coasted to their second straight victory after a 50-47 conquest of the Xlibris Publishers, while the Lexmark Stallions stunned the previously unbeaten Teletech Titans, 60-58, in the Sun Cellular-presented 8th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Eliot Emerson Uy had 13 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three steals in all-around hardcourt brilliance that enabled Kyocera to join defending champion Stream Global Services Ingenyouity, Convergys Wolves and 1&1 Marauders atop the leaderboard of Northern Conference with identical 2-0 slates.

Jason Rodriguez added 10 points and seven rebounds for Kyocera, which gamely parried Xlibris' endgame attack to scrape through a three-point win.

Martian Ian de Guzman finished with 13 points on top of three rebounds and the same number of steals, while Violeto Tan, Jr. added 10 markers for Xlibris, which suffered its second straight setback in as many starts.

In another closely-knit match, Franco Angelo Cipriano came up with a spectacular show of 14 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals as Lexmark overcame sluggish start to humble the vaunted Titans of Teletech.

Roy Joseph Lanzaderas and Mervin Balansag connived for 21 points for Xlibris, which trailed by eight points at the end of first period, 8-16.

Xlibris was still down by a hairline after three quarters, 45-46, but fought with grace under pressure in the crucial stretch to turn the tables on Teletech at the final buzzer.

Sherwin Emmanuelle Resilla had 20 points, nine rebounds and two steals, but his efforts went for naught as Teletech tasted defeat for the first time after a rousing 2-0 start.

In the other game, the JP Morgan Chase Bankers finally barged into the column at the expense of the Executive Boutique Lycans, 58-53.

Mariel Barrera cashed in 20 points on top of eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Joel Anthony Obungen added 14 points as JP Morgan snapped out of its three-game losing slump while dealing Executive Boutique its third consecutive loss.

Andrew Thomas Joh Hilvano topscored for Executive Boutique with 20 points followed by R'nyl Joel Cagas with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The scores

First game

Lexmark (60) - Cipriano 14, Lanzaderas 11, Balansag 10, Positos 8, Tiempo 7, Villahermosa 4, Ariate 3, Ofonda 3

Telectech (58) - Resilla 20, Limpangog 11, Anghay 7, Mata 6, Banua 5, Romulo 3, Medija 2, Pardillo 2, Capillanes 2

Second game

JP Morgan (58) - Barrera 20, Obungen 14, Romales 5, Zaragoza 5, Lehaney 5, Tundag 4, Quiaoit 3, Chua 2

Executive Boutique (53) - Hilvano 25, Cagas 14, Vertuzado 6, Almonte 5, Conejos 3

Third game

Kyocera (50) - Uy 13, Rodriguez 10, Edera 8, Daniel 5, Luzares 5, Bacolod 3, Gabiana 2, Navarro 2, Dy 1, Sy 1

Xlibris (47) - De Guzman 13, Tan 11, Melgar 9, Salcedo 4, Nocos 4, Agustin 2, Go Bui 2, Tangalin 2

— EBV (FREEMAN)