Tan the hero as Wipro downs Accenture in clash of E-League titans

CEBU, Philippines - Violeto Tan, Jr. scored on a crucial layup with three seconds left to play, powering the Wipro Tigers to a  nerve-wracking 67-65 win over the Accenture Sharks in an epic battle of undefeated squads in the 9th CSCC E-League for Basketball last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

It was sparkling end to Tan's game-long brilliance, finishing with 21 points,  eight rebounds and four  steals as Wipro stretched its sizzling run to three games in a row.

Wipro actually trailed by eight after the first period 9-17, but charged back with savvy in the  next two quarters, 43-33, to gain a two-point headway, 52-50, heading into the final 10-minute mark of the  contest.

The two protagonists then figured in an air-tight duel in the windup and when the score stood at 65-all,

Tan came up with an endgame magic to lift Wipro into seventh heaven.

Reinario Salibay, Jr. was the other double-digit scorer for Wipro with 11 points, even as the likes of Ernie Eric Ygot, Daniel Maglangit, John Paul Escudero, and Jan Harvet de la Torre also figured prominently with a combined output of 25 points, 21 rebounds, five steals, and two blocks.

Archie Brian Vincent Batua had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Ryan Edward Llanos added 16 points, three steals and two assists for Accenture, which tasted its first loss after a rousing 3-0 start.

In the other games, defending champion Stream Ingenyouity improved its record to 2-1 after annihilating the hapless Executive Boutique Lycans, 89-49, while the Calltek Trojans banked on a solid final-half showing to turn back the 1&1 Marauders, 67-64, and firm up their grip of the solo second place in bracket A of the Southern Conference with a 4-1 win-loss card.

Carl Melvin Egay banged in 20 points and two rebounds, former MVP Sylvester Millevo added 16 points and six rebounds for Stream, which clobbered Executive Boutique at will despite enjoying a lofty 39-16 lead at halfime on the way to a 40-point cakewalk.

Andrew Thomas Hilvano, Jr. netted 17 points, two rebounds and two assists for Executive Boutique,  which crashed to its third consecutive defeat.

Calltek, on the other hand, drew explosive games from Mark Louise Gellez and Christian Judilla. They both churned out 22 points, even as they also connived for 12 rebounds, four steals and two assists. They trailed by a matchstick after thee quarters, 47-48, but managed to turn the tables on 1&1 at the final buzzer.

Argiel Fernandez carded in 18 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Marauders.

Jan Isiah Gabest nailed 16 points on top of four rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Raymaond Basañez  donated a dozen markers and three rebounds but their efforts went futile as they absorbed their first setback in  three starts. (FREEMAN)