Stream, Convergys forge semifinal showdown

DEFENDING champion Stream and three-time champion Convergys are headed to a major collision after they trampled their respective quarterfinal foes in the northern conference of the 2012 Sun Cellular E-League for Basketball at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym last Sunday.

Both armed with twice-to-beat edges, the number one seed Stream handily defeated the sixth-ranked Qualfon, 75-54, while the second-ranked Convergys posted its own blowout victory by nipping seventh seed 1and1, 100-69.

With the twin victories, Stream and Convergys will be facing each other in a best-of-three semifinal duel with the victor advancing to the northern conference finals.

Ellison Rivera topped Convergys with 26 points, while Emmanuel Auman and Ronald Mabanto added 18 and 10 points, respectively.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Sylvester Millevo, also last season’s Rookie of the Year, paced Stream with 13 points. No other Stream player scored in double figures but the rest of the scorers had at least three points each.

Raymond Basanez paced 1 and 1 with 14 points, while Noel Timagos added 10.

Gerald Jacaban scored 14 markers, while Vincent Enriquez tallied 10 for Qualfon.

In the southern conference, Odusee lived to fight another day after it shocked twice-to-beat Sykes, 91-76.

The sixth-ranked Odusee staved off early elimination behind the impressive offensive showing of Kenneth Abrantes, who exploded for 38 points./EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA