Vipers turn back Stallions in E-League finals

DEFENDING champions Teleperformance (Aegis) Vipers had a well-distributed offensive performance in beating the resurging Lexmark Stallions, 56-52, in the Division 1 Conference Finals of the 2014 CSCC E-Leagues Season 10 Basketball Tournament in the City Sports Club Cebu gym last Saturday.

Top finishers Convergys 2 Blue Devils, on the other hand, inched closer to the E-Leagues Finals after handing Eperformax Reds a clinical 71-55 bashing in the Division 2 Conference Finals.

Playing with all cylinders firing, Teleperformance quickly established control of the match and built a 2819 lead at the bend.

Last year’s runner-up slowly made their way back with Franco Cipriano, Ralph Martinez and Niel Tiempo inching the Stallions closer. But the Vipers stood their ground and their defense by clipping the numbers of the former University of San Jose-Recoletos center Edwin Bibiera.

Four players—Gamaliel Bas, Dean Escalon, James Navaja and Garry Pastoral—scored eight points each for Teleperformance. Cipriano had a game-high 17 points for Lexmark, while Tiempo added 13 and Martinez finished with 11 points.

Meanwhile, Convergys 2 outscored Eperformax Reds, 20-11, in the opening quarter and 23-13 in the third for their 16-point win.

Clifford Amarado scored 13 points, Lourenz Limpangog added 12 and Roderick Mangubat finished with 10 points for the Blue Devils. Angelan Visoc scored 12 points and Robert Gilo made nine points for the Reds.