Hardbacks, Frontiers sustain hot run in E-Leagues

The Author Solutions Philippines Inc. (ASPI) Hardbacks and the Kyocera Frontiers downed separate rivals to keep their hot streaks in the EVO League of the Tanduay Athletics E-Leagues for Basketball Season 14 last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Donald de Leon scattered 18 points, eight rebounds, and two steals as the Hardbacks upended the Tech Mahindra Tech Mighties, 66-60, for their second straight win and fifth overall in eight games.

Ryan Flores tossed in 17 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while Sylvester Millevo nailed nine markers laced with 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals for ASPI, which halted the four-game winning run of Tech Mahindra.

On the other hand, Matthew Grafilo exploded for 36 points on top of four rebounds and five assists as the Frontiers pulled off an 85-84 cliffhanger over the Dyninno Jets to extend their winning roll to four and in the process improve their record to 7-1.

Grafilo got huge support from Ariel Ramonito Edera with 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.

John Lorenzo Segarra notched 22 points, 19 rebounds and two assists, while Jaime Buena Jr. and Rusty Eleazar Salas finished with 19 markers each but their efforts proved futile as the Jets crashed to 4-3.

In the other EVO League match, the Research Now-SSI Warriors snapped out of their four-game jinx with an 85-52 rout of the Bombardier Grey Wolves.

Rex Alinson scored 19, Russef Pananganan added 16 and Nino De la Peña had 13 points for the Warriors, who tallied their third win in nine games.

In the lone Elite Classic duel, three-time defending champions Convergys Converters silenced Wipro Tigers, 77-71, to pad their win streak to five.

Jose Marie Siroy Gonzales unloaded 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, Jaime Pacquiao Jr. contributed 14, while Lourenz Limpangog charted 10 markers and 11 boards as Convergys earned a share of third place with the Sykes Pioneers on identical 7-3 records.—EBV