CEBU, Philippines - The Accenture Sharks banked on a furious opening assault to devour the Lexmark Stallions, 58-50, and stay unbeaten in three starts in the 9th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Archie Brian Vincent Batua unloaded 16 points and seven rebounds, while Ildefonso Bulangis, Jr. added 13 points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals as Accenture takes the solo lead in Southern Conference with an immaculate 3-0 slate.
Ryan Edward Llanos added a dozen markers and dished out four assists for Accenture, which wobbled Lexmark with a crushing 25-8 blow in the first period.
Lexmark never recovered from there on the way to absorb its first loss. Franco Angelo Cipriano paced Lexmark with 17 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals followed by Jake Pia with 14 points and six rebounds in a losing cause.
On the other hand, Rodulfo Enterina III, Dean Junber Escalon and Ryan Veloso connived for 33 points to power the Aegis Vipers to their second straight win at the expense Authot Solutions, Inc. (ASI) Hardbacks, 79-60.
Aegis was in full command of the match after getting off to a hot 22-15 start. They further pounced on the hapless Hardbacks in the next two quarters to post a commanding 21-point advantage, 57-36, with 10 minutes left to play.
Martin Ian de Guzman, Sergs Al Go Bui and Jonas Panerio each scored 12 points for ASI, which slumped to its third consecutive loss.
In the other game of a featured triple-header, the Calltek Trojans shrugged off a lukewarm start to hand defending champion Stream Ingenyouity its first setback of the season, 56-51.
Calltek trailed by nine after the first period, 16-7, but retaliated with a 34-27 run in the middle quarters to pull within just two points, 41-43, heading into the final 10-minute zone of the contest. Calltek then launched its final wave of attack with savvy, 15-8, to fluster Stream at the final buzzer.
Jan Pierre Gellez had 17 points, Christian Judilla scored 14 on top of four rebounds and two assists, while Mark Louise Gellez added 13 points and two steals for Calltek, which improved its win-loss record to 2-1.
One-time league MVP Sylvester Millevo and Iven Cres de la Torre led Stream with 11 points apiece. No other players cashed in double figures as Stream's title defense now faces a serious threat.
The scores
First game
Accenture (58) - Batua 16, Bulangis 13, Llanos 12, Suerte 4, Jumao-as 4, Loreto 3, Abesia 3, Natavio 2, Bontes 1
Lexmark (50) - Cipriano 17, Pia 14, Tiempo 5, Martinez 4, Talan 4, Ofonda 2, Divinagracia 2, Villahermosa 2
Second game
Aegis (79) - Enterina 12, Escalon 11, Veloso 10, Pastoral 8, Manzanares 8, S.W. Navaja 6, K. C. Navaja 6, Palmere 6, Alvarez 6, Bas 2, Yballe 2, Zanoria 2
ASI (60) - De Guzman 13, Go Bui 12, Panerio 12, Villarin 9, Misa 4, Go 4, Reyes 2, Mosquera 2, De Leon 2
Third game
Calltek (56) - J.P. Gellez 17, Judilla 14, M.L. Gellez 13, Genebraldo 8, Julian 2, Magsanay 2
Stream (51) - Millevo 12, De la Torre 12, Mangubat 7, Polestico 6, Galicia 5, Alquilos 4, Aranda 4, Egay 3. (FREEMAN)