THE Convergys Converters kept their title defense alive after tripping Accenture Sharks in double-overtime, 81-75, in the semifinals of the Elite Classic division in the Tanduay Athletics E-Leagues for Basketball Season 13, last weekend at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Former Letran Knight Franz Dysam was the man of the moment for the Converters as he scored 26 points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer that tied the game at 69-all and sent the game to a second overtime. Dysam added five rebounds, four steals and three assists to help Convergys tie the series at 1-1 and force a deciding game for the last ticket to the finals.
Teleperformance eked past Lexmark, 46-44, in the other semifinal to sweep the best-of-three series and nab the first finals slot.
But the day belonged to Convergys, which found itself in a dogfight after the regulation ended at 60-all. Accenture held a 69-66 lead after Harold Isaga sank two free-throws with five seconds remaining. With no timeouts left, Convergys got the ball to Dysam who snaked past several defenders before rising up and swishing a difficult three-pointer as time expired to knot the game at 69-all.
Dysam, former Cebu Institute of Technology-University Sherwin Resilla, and Franz’s older brother Kenneth, then scored crucial baskets in the second OT to secure the win for the Converters.
Resilla finished with 21 markers, seven rebounds and an incredible seven steals.