Stallions outlast Converters in battle of unbeaten teams

CEBU, Philippines – The Lexmark Stallions galloped past the Convergys Converters, 65-63, in a heart-pounding battle of unbeaten teams in the 11th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Vill Duero had 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Sylvester Millevo added 11 markers on top of five steals and as many assists for the Stallions, who extended their winning roll to 4-0.

Kenneth Dysam scattered 20 points and nine rebounds, Sherwin Resilla added 13 points, four rebounds and three steals but their efforts were to no avail as the Converters suffered their first setback in four starts.

In the other Elite Classic games, the Wipro Tigers and the Accenture Sharks bested separate foes to improve their win-loss records to 2-2.

Clifford Amarado churned out 23 points and Brian Diorodo chipped in 16 markers as the Tigers roared past the Convergys Blue Devils, 70-61, while Archie Batua unloaded 27 points and seven rebounds to rally the Sharks to a 72-64 beating of the Sykes Pioneers.

Franz Martinez and Pol Klinto Alfeche each scored 11 for the Tigers, who used a searing 27-15 run in the second quarter to edge out the Blue Devils, who crashed to their fourth straight loss.

The Sharks, on the other hand, used a devastating 38-21 assault in the first half on the way to hand the Pioneers their third loss against only one victory.

In the lone match under the Evo League, Winston Stephen Panal and Junrey Cabarrubias nailed 11 markers apiece as the Kyocera Frontiers eked out a 51-49 win over the Author Solutions, Inc. Hardbacks.

The Frontiers now hold a 5-1 win-loss record, while the Hardbacks, led by Jonas Panerio with 15 points all from beyond the arc in the first half, absorbed their third loss in four games. — EBV (FREEMAN)