WITH big man Franco Angelo Cipriano showcasing a brilliant all-around game, the Lexmark Stallions overcame a severely depleted lineup and trashed the Telstra Boomerangs, 65-49, last Saturday in the Elite Division of the 12th City Sports Club-Cebu (CSC-C) E-League for Basketball at the CSC-C Gym.
The league penalized the Stallions for violating a rule requiring teams to have at least eight uniformed players during the opening ceremonies.
Lexmark had eight players in last week’s opening ceremonies but only seven were in complete uniform.
As a penalty, the seven uniformed players were the only ones who were allowed to suit up.
The lack of personnel hardly mattered as Cipriano took over for the Stallions. He fired a game-high 19 points and was also superb in the defensive end as he collected 19 rebounds, swatted four shots and also had one steal.
Also tallying three assists, Cipriano helped the Stallions rip the game wide open early as they quickly put the Boomerangs away after surging to a 40-22 lead at the turn.
Niel Tiempo backed Cipriano with 17 markers, while Joseph Esteban added 13 markers.
Jasper Christian Diaz led Telstra with his own double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. Jaygard Vios chipped in 13, while Jetro Gonzaga contributed 13.
In the other Elite Division, the Sykes Pioneers broke into the win column by edging out the Accenture Sharks, 68-65.
Melecio Villaplaza spearheaded the Pioneers with 18 markers and 12 boards. He was the lone Pioneer who scored in twin digits but Robby Ruiz, Joerico Maneja, Gerald Bien Galarido and Vernie Jose Diotay produced at least eight points apiece.
Archie Brian Batua topped the Sharks with 23 markers, while Junas Marion Misa and Jeanne Paulo Perez donated 15 and 10, respectively.
In the EVO League action, the Contact Solutions Flying Lemurs survived tight contest and prevailed over The Results Company Spartans, 74-73.
Jerard Dela Cerna scored 26 markers to lead the Flying Lemurs, who also got 13 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals from Roberto Castro Jr.
Jonathan Mangubat finshed with 19 markers for the Spartans, Jade Seno had 18, while Winston Pacaldo and Jude Arthur Go scored 14 and 11, respectively.
The Kyocera Frontiers, meantime, walked away with a default win over the Teletech Titans.