CEBU, Philippines - The Lexmark Stallions and the Calltek Trojans dished out contrasting victories to firm up their hold of the solo second place in their respective brackets in the 9th CSCC E-League for Basketball last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Lexmark easily dismantled the Teleperformance Lions, 70-41, while Calltek survived a spirited resistance by the Kyocera Frontiers to walk away with a close 54-51 win.
Giovanni Villahermosa had 14 points, two assists and two steals, Jake Pia added 13 points as Lexmark stayed at solo second in bracket B of the Southern Conference with a 3-1 win-loss record.
Niel Tempo chipped in 11 markers for Lexmark, which kept Teleperformance at bay after posting a 34-24 lead at halftime. They further outclassed Teleperformance in the final half, 36-17, resulting into a 29-point rout.
Frenche Bonn Petallo tossed in 12 points, five rebounds and two blocks but could not do any good as Teleperformance staggered to its fifth straight defeat.
On the other hand, Mark Louise Gellez scattered 14 points as Calltek tightened its grip of the second spot in bracket A of the Nothern Conference with a 5-1 win-loss card. They went through some scary moments, but relied on solid defense and lucky breaks to complete a three-point escape.
Winston Stephen Panal netted 14 points and five rebounds, while Derwin Dexter Sy added 10 but their efforts were to no avail as Kyocera stayed winless in four starts.
In the other game, Sylvester Millevo flashed the deadly form that made him league MVP and Rookie of the Year at the same time two years ago by churning out 28 points to power defending champion Stream Ingenyouity to a 71-58 whacking of the 1&1 Marauders.
Millevo also hauled three rebounds, three blocks and two assists, while Angelo Lucero pitched in 13 points and five rebounds for Stream, which used a devastating final-half attack to blow out 1&1 and grab the temporary lead in bracket B up North with an improved 3-1 slate. They trailed at halftime, 28-31, but charged back in the third, 21-14, before closing the match with a 22-13 spurt to come up with a 13-point triumph.
Arnel Azarcon tallied 14 points followed by Jan Isiah Gabest with 13 for 1&1, which fell to 2-2.— EBV (FREEMAN)