CEBU, Philippines- The Convergys 2 Blue Devils blasted the SSI Warriors, 73-55, for a season-best 6-0 start in the 10th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Clifford Amarado churned out 22 points and Joselito Aranda added 12 points, eight rebounds and two assists for Convergys 2, which dictated the pace of the match from start to finish.
The Blue Devils toned down after a blistering 21-12 start, but summoned back their sizzling offensive in the windup to thrash the Warriors by 18 points and stay as the only unbeaten team in the league.
Lawrence Daven Agas finished with 18 points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds, while Robert Espinoza carded in 16 points, six assists and as many steals and rebounds, but their all-around showing went for naught as SSI suffered its third loss in eight starts.
On the other hand, the Accenture Sharks rode on a strong first-half show to bring down the Teleperformance Kings, 57-49, and earn a share of Division 1 lead with defending champion Aegis Vipers on identical 6-2 win-loss cards.
Archie Brian Vincent Batua had 18 points and eight rebounds for Accenture, which was in full command after posting an eight-point edge at halftime, 33-25.
Frenche Bonn Petallo netted 10 points on top of 14 rebounds but still went home on a pensive mood as Teleperformance slumped to its fourth defeat against only two victories.
In the other games, Daryl Villarante tossed in 20 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals as the Xerox Knights whipped the GGS Griffins, 71-52, while Ellison Rivera charted 15 points, six rebounds and two steals to lead the ASI Hardbacks to a 45-36 drubbing of Sykes Pioneers.
Jonathan de la Cruz chalked up 19 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and steals in a spectacular showing that helped Xexox notch its fourth win in seven games. The outcome of the match was alreayd a foregone conclusion after Xerox mounted an insurmountable 25-point advantage, 60-35, going into the final period. No player cashed in doluble figures as GGS dropped to its seventh consecutive loss.
Rivera, for his part, was backed up by Martin Ian de Guzman with 10 points, three assists and three steals for ASI, which now holds a 4-3 win-loss mark. -/EBV) (FREEMAN)