CEBU, Philippines - The Supportsave Dragons once again rode on Niño Belande's all-around hardcourt brilliance to outlast the Tech Mahindra Tech Mighties, 74-64, and stay unbeaten after nine games in the 12th CSCC E-League men's basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Belande sizzled with 25 points on top of 11 rebounds, eight steals and four assists for the Dragons, who laid down a solid opening and endgame show to upend the Tech Mighties and further pull away from their rivals in the Evo League standings.
Janille Kristianne Bantilan backed up Belande with 13 points followed by Germaine Jo Guarisma with 11 markers.
EJ Saavedra erupted for 33 points laced with 12 rebounds, three assists and as many steals but his efforts went for naught as the Tech Mighties suffered their second loss in nine starts.
In the other games, Ellison Rivera posted a tournament-high 37 points spiked with 14 rebounds and five assists to power the Dynnino Raptors to a 103-94 triumph over The Results Companies Spartans, the Contact Solutions Flying Lemurs nipped the United Health Cobras, 84-72, while Clyde Cadungog netted 17 points on top of six rebounds as the Teletech Titans trounced the Atos Falcons, 73-40, in a battle of winless teams.
Rainier Dominic Obenza finished with 24 points and Ignatius Mark Loyola added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who never looked back after a hot 34-18 start on the way to raise their record to 6-4. The Spartans dropped to 4-6.
The Flying Lemurs, on the other hand, relied on a balanced offensive led by Japhet Tuanzon with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists to even their win-loss mark to 5-5.
The Cobras absorbed their seventh loss against only three victories, the Titants snapped out of their nine-game jinx, while the listless Falcons plummeted to their 10th loss.— EBV (FREEMAN)