Belande powers Dragons to sixth straight vicrtory

CEBU, Philippines - Niño Belande had a monster double-double show of 29 points and 18 rebounds as the Supportsave Dragons pummeled the Blue Ocean Pirates, 99-70, to stay unbeaten in six games under the Evo League of the 12th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Saturday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Janille Kristianne Bantilan added 23 points, six rebounds and as many assists, while Germaine Jo Guarisma chipped in 12 points, three steals and two assists for the Dragons, who dropped a devastating 29-9 bomb in the third quarter to blow off the hapless Pirates.

Raymond Dennis Tan unloaded 27 points, eight rebounds and two steals but to no avail as the Pirates suffered their fifth loss against only one win.

  In the other Evo games, Ellison Rivera fired 21 points and passed out five assists to power the Dyninno Raptors past the Teletech Titans, 91-62, while Jonathan Mangabat erupted with 26 points laced with five rebounds and three assists as The Results Company Spartans bested the Atos Falcons, 67-56.

Ed Roel Laboga added 16 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists, while Antonio Reyes chipped in 14 markers on top of seven rebounds, three steals and two assists as the Raptors evened their record to 4-4.

Jude Arthur Go finished with 15 points, six assists and three steals, while Jade Seno added 12 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Spartans, who scored their only second victory in seven games.

The Titans are still without a win in seven games, same with the Falcons after six starts.

In the Elite Classic, defending champions Convergys Converters bounced back from a previous loss and vented their ire on the Wipro Tigers, 66-50. Sherwin Emmanuelle Resilla banged in 16 points, 16 rebounds and four assists to lead four Convergys players in double figures.

Lourenz Limpangog churned out 13 points and pulled down a dozen rebounds, Aldene Jay Batino netted 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Kenneth Dysam had 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Converters, who launched a blistering 27-4 assault at the endgame to silence the Tigers and improve their record to 5-1.

Reinario Salibay had 26 points but his singular offensive outburst proved futile at the Tigers stayed winless in six games. ?EBV (FREEMAN)