THE Eperformax Reds pulled off a shocker of a win at the start of the best-of-three semifinal round of the 2013 E-League for Basketball, hacking out a gritty 80-76 overtime win over the Aegis Vipers last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.
The big upset pushed the Reds to within a win from advancing to the northern conference finals as they drew solid games from Romel John Ferrero Lawas, Patrick Anthony Ybañez, Robert Gilo and Rius Anthony Agua, who combined for 58 points.
Lawas fired 21 points, Ybañez tallied 14, while Gilo and Agua had 13 and 10, respectively.
In the other northern conference semis battle, defending champion and bracket B leader Stream Ingenyouity logged an easy 71-54 win over the Calltek Trojans.
Stream took off to a 21-10 start and never looked back from that point on.
Ivan Cres Dela Torre and Joselito Aranda spearheaded Stream with 17 points each, while Angelo Lucero was equally effective with 16 markers.
Mark Louise Gellez was the lone Trojan in double figures with 25 points.
In the southern conference, the Lexmark Stallions jumped to a 1-0 lead in their own semis series against the Wipro Tigers via 64-56 decision.
Jake Pia led the way for the Stallions with 16 markers and was backed by Niel Teimpo and Sigfred Ofonda, who finished with 14 and 11, respectively.
Ernie Eric Ygot scored 23 markers for the Tigers, who also got 10 markers from Reinario Salibay Jr. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA