CEBU, Philippines - The Aegis Vipers dethroned Stream Ingenyouity via two-game sweep, 53-41, of their best-of-three series to clinch the Northern Conference title of the 9th CSCC E-League for Basketball last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
In the South finals, the Lexmark Stallions drew first blood over the Accenture Sharks, 66-60, in their own race-to-2 duel.
Dean Junber Escalon scattered 14 points on top of four steals, three assists and two rebounds, while Ryan Veloso banged in a dozen markers and the same number of rebounds for Aegis, which used a strong opening assault, 12-5, to rattle Stream the rest of the way.
Aegis further ripped the game apart with a 19-10 blitz in the third quarter that gave them a huge 15-point advantage, 41-26, going into the final 10-minute mark of the contest.
Sylvester Millevo was the lone double-digit scorer for Stream with 12 points laced with seven rebounds and five steals.
On the other hand, Niel Tiempo paced Lexmark with 25 points, six rebounds and three steals. Franco Angelo Cipriano added 16 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three blocks for the Stallions, who weathered a spirited end game resistance by Accenture to move one win away from snaring the Southern Conference crown.
Lexmark raced to a hot 22-12 start and after cooling down in the second period, they made a 17-10 rally for a 49-35 advantage at the end of the third canto. Accenture staged a fierce counter-attack in the windup but Lexmark held its ground to escape with a six-point win.
Archie Brian Vincen Batua had 15 points 12 rebounds and two steals for Accenture. Ildefonso Bulangis, Jr. also netted 15 points on top of five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Jonathan Abesia added 13 points, three rebounds and two steals in a losing effort. (FREEMAN)