Top performers in this year’s E-League for Basketball were awarded last Saturday. EVO League awardees (left photo) were Nino Belande (from left), EJ Saavedra, Ignatius Loyola and Christopher Durango. They were joined by Rigel Migallen of Zenovia International and league commissioner Marvin Caro (right most) (CONTRIBUTED).
The Convergys Converters and the Supportsave Dragons drew first blood in their respective best-of-three titular series in the 12th City Sports Club-Cebu (CSC-C) E-League for Basketball last Saturday at the CSC-C Gym.
The defending champions Converters moved a win away from clinching the Elite Classic crown after they nipped the Lexmark Stallions, 59-58, while the Dragons also inched closer to bagging the EVO League title by downing the Tech Mahindra Tech Mighties, 75-63.
Franz Dysam paced the Converters with 14 points, while Lourenz Limpangog and Aldene Jay Batino chipped in 12 and 10, respectively.
Sylvester Millevo scored 14, Vill Duero had 10 for the Lexmark, which shot itself in the foot when it only managed six points in the third period while allowing Convergys to score 23.
The Dragons, on the other hand, stayed unbeaten this season after they got another solid game from Niño Belande, who piled up 17 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, two assists and two steals.
Justin Marie Mier added 16 points and Germaine Jo Guarisma donated 13 for Supportsave, which has yet to lose in 15 games dating back to the elimination round.
EJ Saavedra finished with game-high 27 points to lead the Tech Mighties, while Robert Rebaño pitched in 14.
Top performers
Meanwhile, the league’s top performers were recognized prior to the start of the last Saturday’s main game.
In the Elite Classic, Archie Batua of the Accenture Sharks bagged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after finishing the season with averages of 19.29 points, 9.71 rebounds, 3.71 assists and 2.14 steals per game.
The Elite Classic awardees which included Archie Batua, Sherwin Resilla, Franco Cipriano, Junas Misa and Aldene Batino (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO).
Batua was joined in the Mythical Five by fellow Shark Junas Misa, Convergys’ Batino and Sherwin Resilla and Lexmark’s Franco Cipriano.
Batino collared the Rookie of the Year (ROY) accolade with averages of 12.13 points, 6.75 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.03 steals and .50 block per outing.
Statistical leaders were Cipriano (blocks, 1.88 a game), Misa (assists, 4.57), Telstra’s Jasper Diaz (rebounds, 14.13) and Batua (scoring champion, 19.29). Diaz tied teammate Jetro Gonzaga in the steals department with the duo both averaging 2.50 a game.
In the EVO League, Belande was crowned MVP by tallying averages of 23.82 points, 13.18 boards, 3.82 assists, 3.09 steals and .73 block a game.
Saavedra snatched the ROY award after averaging 17.0 points, 8.50 rebounds, 2.20 steals, 2.20 assists and .70 block a game.
Belande and Saavedra were joined in the Mythical Five by Dyninno’s Ignatius Loyola and Christopher Durango and Johnrey Girasol of QBE.
Aside from taking home the scoring champion accolade, Belande was also named the steals leader.
Other statistical winners were Roberto Castro Jr. (blocks, 4.38), Jade Seno of The Results (assists, 5.64) and Teletech’s Perry Niones (rebounds (14).
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