The organizers’ move to split the competition into two divisions to avoid one-sided games paid off as two close encounters marked the start of the 11th City Sports Club-Cebu (CSC-C) E-League for Basketball last Sunday at the CSC-C Gym.
In the EVO League action, the Results Companies Spartans recovered from a double-digit halftime deficit to nip the Contact Solutions El-Slazenger in overtime, 64-60, while the Convergys Converters bucked a sloppy second quarter showing to escape the Eperformax Reds, 60-58, in their Elite Classic division showdown.
The organizers last week revealed that the tournament will use a modified bracketing aimed at ensuring a more balanced competition.
In the new system, teams are divided into two divisions—the Elite Classic and the Evo League. Teams touted as the league’s top dogs will compete in the Elite Classic while the Evo League will have teams in the developmental stage.
Jade Seno fired 25 points, Winston Pacaldo added 14 as the Spartans charged back from a 20-30 deficit at the turn. The Results countered with a 25-15 attack in the final two quarters then used a 9-5 run in the extension period to seal the four-point victory.
Joseph Lofranco paced El-Slazenger with 14 points.
Lourenz Limpangog, on the other hand, was the lone double-digit scorer for the Converters with 20 markers but it was more than enough to save the team from the hard-fighting Reds.
MISS E-LEAGUE
Meanwhile, Cleofe Blanco of the Wipro Tigers won the Ms E-league 2015 tiara.
Pauline Marie Cruz of the Sykes Pioneers was the first runner-up, while Supportsave Dragons’ Malou Joyce Leopoldo was chosen second runner-up.