Castañares powers Sykes past Wipro in CSCC E-League

CEBU, Philippines - Ray Oliver Castañares scored only four points but turned out to be the brightest star for Sykes, coming up with a crucial steal and hitting two free throws in the finals nine seconds of the contest to lift the Pioneers to a nerve-wracking 65-63 win over the Wipro Tigers in the 9th CSCC E-League for Basketball last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

It was actually Wipro who had the first shot at victory having ball possession when the score stood  at 63-all with nine seconds left to play, but the cat-quick Castañares foiled the Tigers' winning chances by stripping the ball off Wipro player John Paul Cabrera.

In an effort to stop the clock, Cabrera quickly fouled Castañares, who then calmly sank his press-packed foul throws to complete his endgame heroics for Sykes.

Castañares also dished out six assists and pulled down two rebounds as Sykes nochted its fourth win in six starts. It was Frederick Montelibano who topscored for the Piooners with 15 points, while Rey Louie Lepardo and Gerald Bien Galarido connived for 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Reinario Salibay, Jr. cashed in 17 points and Neptune Carungay added 11 for Wipro, which suffered its second straight loss after a rousing 3-0 start.

In the other games, the Lexmark Stallions pummeled the SSI Warriors, 77-58, while the Teleperformance Lions lashed back at the Talleco Bandits in style, 82-38.

Lexmark was never threatened after getting off to a flying 25-12 start on the way to earn a share of the Southern Conference lead with the Accenture Sharks on identical 6-1 win-loss records. Niel Tiempo paced Lexmark with 21 points and three rebounds, while Giovanni Villahermosa and Ralph Loren Martinez scattered 11 and 10 markers, respectively.

Lawrence Daven Agas and Dennis Noel Poquita were held off to a combined 22 points as SSI crashed to its fifth defeat against a solitary victory.

Later in the day,  Marco Antonio Real had 18 points and four assists for Teleperformance, which spared no mercy in exacting vengeance over the hapless Talleco side.

Talleco won during their first meeting but it has been voided in favor of Teleperformance due to inconsistencies in player records.

Alfonso Abala chipped in 10 points for Teleperformance, which now holds three wins against four losses. Mark Matidios was the lone double-digit finisher with 16 points and eight rebounds for Talleco, which is now held winless in five games. (FREEMAN)