Convergys, Lexmark score blowout wins in CSCC E-League

CEBU, Philippines - The Convergys Wolves and Lexmark Stallions massacred their respective foes in record-establishing fashion in the Sun Celullar-presented 8th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Joshua Ryan Yam fired 24 points as Convergys recorded what is by far the most lopsided win of the season, a merciless 66-point demolition of JP Morgan Chase Bankers, 96-30, while Lexmark was similarly awesome in its 53-point whacking of the Eli Global Underdogs, 104-51.

After jumping off to a blistering 27-4 start, Convergys held JP Morgan scoreless in the second canto while charting 30 markers to post an eye-popping 57-4 lead at halftime. JP Morgan's pitiful four-point output in a half was perhaps the lowest for a team in any hoop tilt.

Nathanael Johnn Caparoso, Mark Gonda and Ellison Rivera carded in 16 points apiece for Convergys, which continued to pummel JP Morgan in the last two quarters, 39-26.

Mariel Barrera was the lone double digit scorer for JP Morgan with 12 points on top of three rebounds and the same number of assists.

On the other hand, Nell Armamento cashed in 17 points, four steals and two assists, while Mervin Balansag added 15 points, three rebounds, three steals and three assists as Lexmark ripped the game apart as early as in the first period, 28-8.

Ellery Ariate banged in 12 points, while Franco Angelo Cipriano and Jared Positos each scored 10 for Lexmark, which hammered Eli Global in the third quarter, 31-15, to pad a 49-25 advantage at the intermission into a 40-point bubble, 80-40, heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest.

Jesus Recarded paced Eli Global with 14 points and seven rebounds followed by John Raymund Bartulin with 10 points.

In the other game, Kristianne Janille Bantilan scattered 19 points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds, while Marck Ryan Campomanes, Edmon Paradiang and Fritz Vincent Blanes conspired for 32 points as the SupportSave Jaguars streaked past the Odusee Rooz, 73-67.

SupportSave trailed by eight after the first quarter, 11-19, but charged back with savvy in the next period to pull within just a hairline at the bend, 32-33.

SupportSave then launched its killer 25-13 blow in the third canto to seize full control of the match the rest of the way.

Kenneth Robert Abrantes led Odusee with 23 points. Romnick Igot added 17 markers and Rueben James Cabilino had 11 points, seven steals, five rebounds, and four assists in an all-around show albeit for a losing cause.

The scores

First game

SupportSave (73) - Bantilan 19, Paradiang 11, Campomanes 11, Blanes 10, Espinoza 9, Dandan 7, Rodriguez 4, Vacalares 2

Odusee (67) - Abrantes 23, Igot 17, Cabilino 11, Downey 6, Amante 4, Gonzales 4, Paner 2

Second game

Lexmark (104) - Armamento 17, Balansag 15, Arieta 12, Cipriano 10, Positos 10, Vilalluz 8, Talan 6, Ofonda 6, Pia 5, Tiempo 4, Villahermosa 4, Lanzaderas 3, Torrepalma 2, Quimno 1

Eli Global (51) - Ricarde 14, Bartulin 10, Pobre 8, Lauro 7, De la Cerna 6, Fernandez 6

Third game

Convergys (96) - Yam 24, Caparoso 16, Gonda 16, Rivera 16, Tapic 5, Cuizon 4, Mabanto 4, Morales 4, Villarin 3, Mora 2, De Leon 2

JP Morgan (30) - Barrera 12, Daamo 8, Zaragoza 4, Chua 4, Tundag 2 — (FREEMAN)