Fusion BPO advances to semis

CEBU, Philippines — Nino Belande registered a triple double as the Fusion BPO Dragons finished off the Dreamscape Lions with a decisive 90-78 win in their knockout match to barge into the Elite Classic semifinals of the Tanduay Athletics CSCC E-Leagues for Basketball Season 15 at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym last Saturday.

Belande finished with 24 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in an all-around hardcourt brilliance for the Dragons, who set up a best-of-three showdown with the defending champion Sykes Pioneers in the last round of four next week.

Aldrin Fernandez chipped in 22 markers, three steals and two rebounds as the Dragons blew hot and cold before silencing the Lions.

After getting off to a flying 30-19 start, the Dragons suffered a huge collapse in the middle quarters, enabling the Lions to seize the upper hand, 63-62, going into the final 10-minute zone of the contest.

The Dragons, however, suddenly regained their offensive bearing and went on to close the match with a 28-15 bang to whip the Lions by a dozen points at the final buzzer.

Justine Marie Mier was the other bright spot for the Dragons with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Ralph Belarmino piled up 20 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and three assists while Matthew Alvin Oche cashed in 19 points, eight rebounds, five steals and four assists but their sterling performances went down the drain as the Lions already kissed their championship bid goodbye.