Aegis, ePerformax keep division leads in CSCC E-League

CEBU, Philippines - Defending champion Aegis Vipers and the ePerformax Reds easily cruised past separate foes to take the lead in their respective divisions in the 10th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym. Aegis mauled the Telstra Boomerangs, 66-27,to stay on top of the totem pole in Division 1 with a 5-1 win-loss record while ePerperformax outlasted the Author Solutions, Inc. Hardbacks, 62-54, to earn a share of Divison 2 lead with Convergys 2 Devils on identical 4-0 slates.

Kevin Clark Navaja finished with 11 points, five assists and two steals for Aegis, which ripped the game apart as early as in the first half, 36-10. They again held off Tesltra to only four points in the third period on the way  come up with a 39-point blowout.

Ryan Veloso had 10 points and 11 rebounds laced with six assists, two blocks and two steals while James Lester Navaja also had 10 points and three rebounds for the Vipers, who dealt Tesltra its fourth loss in five games.

On the other hand, Joey Mari de Guzman paced ePerformax with 11 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals followed by Nolan de la Peña with 10 markers. The Reds opened the match with an 18-10 bang, then deftly quelled every comeback attempt by the Hardbacks to preserve an eight-point victory.

Martin Ian de Guzman charted 23 points and Ellison Rivera added 11 points, four rebounds and two steals, but their efforts went futile as the Hardbacks dropped to 3-3.

In the other games, the Kyocera Frontiers waylaid the GGI Griffins, 61-25 while the Supportsave Dragons roared to a 64-56 win over the 1&1 Marauders.

Ariel Ramonito Edera unloaded 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and as many steals while RJ Lee Daniel scored 11  for Kyocera, which never looked back after a blistering 23-5 start on the way to even its record to 2-2. The GGS Griffins is further mired down the rear without win in five starts.

Nino Belande had a spectacular double-double show of 22 points and a season-high 18 rebounds for Supportsave. He also had five assists and two blocks as they bettered their win-loss record to 4-2  while handing the Marauders of their second defeat against the same number of wins.

Belande was heavily backed up by Allan Juezan with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists and Edmon Paradian with 11 points. Raymaond Basañez led 1&1 with 22 points and six rebounds followed by Argiel Fernandez with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in a losing cause. (FREEMAN)