ASI Hardbacks log 1st win in E-League

DISPLAYING  tremendous grit and solid composure down the stretch, the ASI Hardbacks finally broke into the win column with a 56-52 victory over the Kyocera Frontiers last Saturday in the 2013 E-League for Basketball at the City Sports Club-Cebu Gym.

Also ending their struggles were the Telstra-Teletech Titans and the SSI Warriors, who defeated separate foes for their first wins of the season.

The Titans clipped the Talleco Bandits, 83-51, while the Warriors dumped the Teleperformance Lions, 73-66.

Absorbing three straight losses to start the tournament, the Hardbacks seemed headed for yet another debacle when they fell behind, 5-18, at the end of the opening period.

Despite the pathetic start, the Hardbacks kept pushing and their efforts paid off as they outscored the Frontiers in the middle periods, 29-16, to tie the count at 34-all going into the payoff period.

Defeat still stared at the Hardbacks as the Frontiers took a 43-35 lead in the final five minutes but Ian de Guzman, Jonas Panerio and six-foot-five former varsity player Christian Rez conspired in a 21-9 game-closing run to hand the hard-earned win to ASI.

De Guzman paced the Hardbacks with 20 points, while Rez added 13. Paul Romwell Amit donated eight points, while Panerio and Armalon Fernandez each had seven markers.

Ariel Ramonito Edera had 15 points, while Eliot Emerson Uy finished with 10 for the Frontiers, who stayed winless after three outings.

Clifford Amarado, meanwhile, erupted for 31 points, Esel Capillanes scattered 17 to help the Titans nail their first victory after falling in their first four games.

Mark Matidios scored 14 for the Bandits, who suffered their second straight loss to drop to 1-2 (win-loss).

Bagging their first victory after two failed attempts, the Warriors leaned on Lawrence Daven Agas, who fired 26 points.

Dennis Noel Poquita backed Agas up with 11 points.

Eugenio Paming tallied 21 markers, while Frenche Bonn Petallo netted 20 for the Lions, who tasted their fourth defeat in as many games. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA