Vipers hand Pioneers first loss; Converters win anew in E-Leagues

The Teleperformance Vipers whipped up a fierce endgame attack to down the previously unbeaten Sykes Pioneers, 73-61, in the Elite Classic division of the Tanduay Athletics E-Leagues for Basketball Season 14 last Saturday at the City Sports Club Gym-Cebu.

It was a sorry setback for the Pioneers, who took control of the match from the start, even leading still by four after three quarters, 47-43.

The Vipers, however, went on a scoring binge in the closing minutes of the contest, outpointing the Vipers, 30-14, to turn things around in their favor.

Mon Xavier Dico finished with 18 points and Germaine Jo Guarisma chipped in 10 markers as the Vipers improved their record to 3-1 in a tie with their victim.

Jan Michael Auditor sizzled with 28 points and Earldred Cesar Montilla nailed 16 markers but their efforts went for naught as the Pioneers saw their threegame winning run come to a sudden halt.

In the other Elite Classic duel, three-time defending champions Convergys Converters rallied past the Fusion BPO Services Dragons, 75-71, for their first back-to-back wins this season.

Ildefonso Bulangis led four Convergys players in double figures with 13 points followed by Lourenz Limpangog with 12. Jaime Pacquiao Jr. and John Jaesser Dogomeo banged 10 points each.

Kristian Bantilan unloaded 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Justine Marie Mier tallied 12 for the Dragons, who stumbled to their first loss after starting the season with back-to-back wins.

In the EVO League, the Author Solutions Philippines Inc. (ASPI) Hardbacks and the Tech Mahindra Tech Mighties hammered their respective foes.

Ryan Lauro had 15 points and Donald de Leon scored 12 as the Hardbacks demolished the Streamline Kangaroos, 74-45, while Robert Rebaño dropped 14 points as the Tech Mighties routed the CTC BPO Panthers, 67-45.

The Hardbacks now hold sa 2-1 record, while Tech Mahindra upped its win-loss mark to 3-1.