DEFENDING champion Stream Ingenyouity bolstered its title-retention bid after it turned back the three-time champions Convergys Wolves, 48-45, last Saturday in the northern conference best-of-three semifinal round of the 2012 Sun Cellular E-League for Basketball at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.
Stream came back from a 19-27 halftime deficit with a 17-7 run in the third quarter then held on in the payoff period to move a win away from advancing to the northern conference finals.
Benjie Mancao topped Stream with 14 points, while reigning MVP Sylvester Millevo listed 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.
In the other northern conference semis duel, the Aegis Vipers handily defeated the ePerformax Reds, 53-37, for a 1-0 series lead. Ryan Veloso collected 15 points and 14 rebounds to spearhead Aegis, while Clifford Amarado added 15 points.
In the southern conference semis, the Teletech Titans also jumped to a 1-0 lead by edging out the Lexmark Stallions, 50-47. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA