Vipers, Sharks chalk up convincing victories

THE UNDEFEATED Aegis Vipers and the Accenture Sharks prevailed in Sunday’s battle of the top teams in the 2013 E-League for Basketball at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.

In a collision between northern conference bracket A leaders, the Vipers hacked out an 82-69 win over the Calltek Trojans, while the Sharks prevailed in the encounter between the southern conference bracket B leaders, beating the Lexmark Stallions, 82-66.

The Vipers leaned on a balanced attack as they had four players in double figures to cruise to their seventh victory in as many games.

Ryan Veloso top scored for the Vipers with 15 points, while Steve Warren Navaja, Frederic Yballe and Rodulfo Enterina chipped in 14, 12 and 11 markers, respectively.

Christian piled up a game-high 24 points, Mark Louise Gellez finished with 14, while Jan Pierre Gellez contributed 13 but they couldn’t save the Trojans, who tasted just their second loss in nine games.

The Sharks also had a well-distributed offense with Archie Brian Vincent’s four double-digit scores with 21 markers. Ryan Edward Llanod pitched in 17 markers, Julian Kyle Suerte tallied 11 and Jasper Loreto submitted 10 for the Sharks, who pocketed their eighth victory against a single loss.

Niel Tiempo fired a game-high 23 markers but no other player scored in double figures for the Stallions, who dropped to 6-2 (win-loss).

Meanwhile, the Sykes Pioneers went through the wringer before escaping the SSI Warriors, 59-57. Frederick Montelibano scored 20 points, Vernie Jose Diotay netted 11, while Reggy Sultan collected 10 in the Pioneers’ fifth win in eight games.

Lawrence Daven Agas finished with 20 markers, John Denver Rivera donated 12 for the Warriors, who dropped to 2-6. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA