Supportsave stays on top, 24/7 stuns Kyocera in E-League hoop

CEBU, Philippines- The Supportsave Dragons stayed on top of the heap in Evo League, but the 24/7 Cagers stole part of the show after they stunned the Kyocera Frontiers in the 11th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

The Dragons blasted the Calltek Trojans, 88-68, to grab the solo lead with an 8-1 win-loss record, but the Cagers dropped a bombshell in their 70-65 conquest of the favored Frontiers.

Niño Belande churned out 30 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and four assists for the Dragons, who was in full command after racing to a hot 20-10 start. They sustained their momentum the rest of the way on the way to a 20-point blowout.

Belande drew huge support from Germanie Jo Guarisma with 19 points and Gerald Mari Batua with 11 points laced with  eight assists and two steals.

Aerl Genebraldo had 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Patrick Jamlan nailed 20 markers but to no avail as the Trojans dropped to 4-5.

The biggest story, however, went to the Cagers who outclassed the Frontiers, thanks to the scintillating 44-point, 14-rebound show of Ralph Belarmino.

The Cagers now hold a 3-5 win-loss card, while the Frontiers suffered their only second loss in eight games despite stellar performances from Junrey Cabarrubias and Winston Stephen Panal. Cabarrubias finished with 20 points, 10 steals and eight rebounds, while Panal had 18 points and five rebounds in a losing effort.

In the other Evo League,  Jan Isiah Gabest and Mark Lester Cortes each scored 19 as the 1&1 Marauders outlasted the Contact Solutions, 76-70, while Clifford Amarado and Daryll Teves Ouano connived for 37 points to power the Wipro Tigers to an 80-72 triumph over the SSI Warriors.

Allan Joel Andrino and Robby Roy Cortes had 26 points combined as the Marauders tallied their second win in nine starts, while Franz Martinez chipped in 15 points and a personal-best 19 rebounds for the Tigers, who bettered their win-loss record to 4-3.

Contact Solutions further slumped at the cellar with only one win in nine games, while the Warriors dropped their sixth match against only two victories. (FREEMAN)