CEBU, Philippines - The red-hot Convergys Wolves displayed another great team effort as they trounced the Qualfon Knights, 96-70, to stay undefeated in the Sun Cellular-presented 8th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Saturday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Five players dished out twin figures led by Kristian Tapic with 18 points and three steals as Convergys firmed up its hold of the Northern Conference lead with an immaculate 6-0 record.
Ellison Rivera added 14 points, Joshua Ryan Yam added 13, while Ronald Mabanto and Philip Villarin finished with 23 markers combined for Convergys, which pounded Qualfon right from the start, 25-12. The Wolves sustained their relentless offensive in the second period to pad their lead to 22 points, 47-25, at halftime.
Convergys further outscored Qualfon in the final quarter, 30-22, to come up with a 26-point blowout.
Jopher Regidor exploded with a game-high 25 points on top of four rebounds and four steals but his efforts went for naught as Qualfon fell to 4-4.
In the other games, Jan O'Neil Sahilan netted 20 points, five steals, three rebounds and two assists as the Sykes Pioneers mauled the SupportSave Jaguars, 78-56, while Dennis Noel Poquita and Reymund Ardiente each scored 15 as the SSI Pure Science outlasted the Odusee Rooz, 79-65.
Carl Michael Troy Umabong banged in 16 points and five rebounds, while Rey Louie Lepardo added 12 points and six rebounds for Sykes, which used a blistering 44-17 rally in the middle quarters to turn back Supportsave and nail its fifth win in seven starts. Supportsave slipped to 2-4.
SSI Pure Science, on the other hand, also used a decisive rally in the second and third periods, 47-20, to pull the rug from under Odusee. SSI, thus, improved its win-loss record to 5-2, while Odusee. which drew 24 points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists from Kenneth Robert Abrantes, suffered its third loss against the same number of wins.
The scores
First game
Sykes (78) - Sahilan 20, Umabong 16, Lepardo 12, Te 8, Castañares 6, Pardenilla 6, Suarez 4, Sultan 2, Diotay 2, Diputado 2
SupportSave (56) - Bantilan 17, Paradiang 11, Blanes 8, Campomanes 5, Vacalares 5, Perez 4, Pongan 4, Ballesteros 2
Second game
SSI (79) - Ardiente 15, Poquita 15, Gabutin 11, Campaña 11, Tomakin 7, Alinson 6, Rivera 4, Auditgor 2, Español 2, Impoc 2, Lacsamana 2, Lepaopao 2
Odusee (65) - Abrantes 24, Abellanosa 14, Igot 10, Amante 7, Cabilino 7, Degoro 3
Third game
Convergys (96) - Tapic 18, Rivera 14, Yam 13, Mabanto 12, Villarin 11, Del Mar 6, Española 6, Loyola 6, Cipres 6, Mora 4
Qualfon (70) - Regidor 25, Sanchez 10, Barbon 7, Enriquez 6, Cuico 4, Luzon 4, Pascua 4, Matuguina 3, Gelbolingo 2, Maglasang 2, Perez 2, Llesol 1—(FREEMAN)