CEBU, Philippines - The Accenture Sharks and ePerformax Reds raced to their second straight wins in the Sun Cellular-presented CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Ryan Edward Llanos tossed in 15 points on top of five rebounds and three assists as Accenture shackled the SupportSave Jaguars, 70-55, while Mark Jefrey Baello carded in 14 points to led Eperformax's balanced offensive in a 67-56 drubbing of the Qualfon Knights.
Alain Mark Buligan and Jonathan Abesia connived for 20 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, four blocks and three assists in an awesome display of hardcourt versaility for Accenture, which actually trailed by four points at the end of the first period, 11-15.
But Accenture retaliated with a 23-9 blast in the second quarter to wrest the driver's seat at halftime, 34-24, for good.
Mark Ryan Campomanes had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Fritz Vincent Blanes cashed in 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, but their efforts proved futile as SupportSave suffered its second setback in three starts.
ePerformax, on the other hand, likewise used a blistering offensive in the second canto to take full control of the match. The Reds were ahead only by a matchstick, 17-16, but staged a daring 20-11 run to post a double-digit edge at the break, 37-27.
Gerald Jacaban had 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals for Qualfon, which slumped to its third defeat against a solitary win.
In the other game, Ryan Zear Lauro knocked in six 3-pointers of his season-high 36 points capped by a pair of crucial free throws in the final 1.8 seconds of the contest that lifted the Eli Global Underdogs to a nerve-wracking 70-68 win over the Cebu Global Warriors.
Jesus Recarde added 14 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists as Eli Global finally snapped out of its three-game jinx.
Kenlord Go Long also had a breakout performance, drilling in eight triples of his 32 points. He also hauled seven rebounds and issued three assists and the same number of steals but his big night was somehow spoiled as Cebu Global absorbed its second consecutive loss.
The scores
First game
Accenture (70) - Llanos 15, Abesia 10, Buligan 10, Loreto 8, Sugguiayao 7, Delavin 6, Suerte 4, Orat 3, Cabahug 2, Natavio 2, Permacio 2, Masancay 1
SupportSave (55) - Campomanes 17, Blanes 13, Dandan 7, Pongan 6, Paradiang 4, Rodriguez 3, Fuentes 3, Ballesteros 2
Second game
Eli Global (70) - Lauro 36, Recarde 14, Bartulin 7, Fernandez 6, Pobre 5, Malazarte 2
Cebu Global (68) - Go Long 32, Estrada 17, Mata 10, Jn Paul Linke 6, Juesan 2, Sanchez 1
Third game
ePerformax (67) - Baello 14, Benlota 9, Arceo 9, Agua 8, Singco 7, Epe 6, Alob 4, Nebria 4, Paredes 4, RD Tan 2
Qualfon (56) - Jacaban 14, Gelbolingo 11, Anolito 10, Cuico 6, Edano 5, Lao 4, Barrita 3, Barbon 3 (FREEMAN)