MANILA, Philippinees — Defending champion Expert Global Solutions got off to a hot start in the 2014 BPO Classics Tournament with an 86-74 clobbering of returnee IBM in the opening match last March 30.
EGS, which leads the 18-team tournament composed of BPO companies in Metro Manila, leaned on the prolific scoring duo of John Valiente Magtalas and Russel Quiambao in torching IBM.
Magtalas, who knocked down seven triples, and Quiambao combined for 55 points which proved to be enough to effectively counter IBM’s balanced attack. EGS also drew 16 points from Frank Divina.
It was a decent start for IBM in the competitive division of the tournament organized by One Unite Sports, with all nine players scoring at least a basket.
Dan Bongkingki finished with 18 points while Rianne Deauna added 16 in a losing effort for IBM, one of comebacking squads this year.
Meanwhile, Ring Central also had a rousing opener after routing CFOS (Cash Flow Outscouring Services), 83-66, in the recreational division.
Team effort carried Ring Central with Joel Nalindhom starring with 23 points on 11-of-17 shooting, Julius Marco Dichoso and Everard Lim adding a combined output of 26 and nine other players sharing at least a point.
Only six players scored for CFOS as Floyd Hendrix Narcida, Josue Del Vilar, and Kaylord Panopio accounted for all but eight of their total points. Del Vilar and Narcida each had 24 while Panopio wound up with 10.
A brief opening ceremony at Makati Colisuem opened this year’s BPO Classics.
