Llanos steals show in CSCC E-League All-Star event

CEBU, Philippines- Ryan Edward Llanos of the Accenture Sharks came out the biggest winner with two titles at hand in the All-Star event of the 10th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Llanos was crowned as the league's 3-point king, then teamed up with Archie Batua to dominate the 2-ball contest.

In the 3-point shootout, Llanos and Jan Michael Cipres of Convergys 1 Wolves topped the qualifying stage with 10 points each. In a thrilling finale, Llanos beat former champions Christian Tapic (2011) and James Cabilino (2010-2011) by the slimmest of margins. He scored 15 points, just a hairline ahead of Tapic and Cabilino.

Llanos kept his hot shooting hands to dominate the 2-ball tilt with Batua. They bested Nino Belande and Allan Juezan of Supportsave Dragons, 25-19, in the final round.

Ibhar del Mar of the Wipro Tigers also has something to be proud of as he ruled the Skills Challenge. He won the same competition two years ago.

Del Mar cleared the obtacles on a coast-to-coast drive with the best time of 23 seconds, just two ticks ahead of his closest pursuer Jan Gabest of the 1&1 Marauders.

Sherwin Resilla of the Conversgys 2 Blue Devils, Lester Navaja of defending champion Aegis Vipers and Arnie Caputol of GGS Griffins caught part of the spotlight after winning the 3-on-3 tournament. They defeated Nino Belande of Supportsave Dragons, Mark Matidios of Job Target Bandits, and JP Escudero of the Wipro Tigers in overtime, 11-9, during the gold-medal match.

After the regulation ended at 9-all, Caputol of GGS fired the game-winner from beyond the arc, which is counted as two points. League rules stipulate that the first team to score two points in extra period wins. — EBV) (FREEMAN)