Competition is getting tougher in the 2016 BPO Classics Intermediate Division, which was full display after the November 5 and 6 matches.
Sykes nipped Sitel, 82-81, in a thrilling finish even as HSBC escaped The Results, 84-82, on clutch free throws in games held at STI Academic Center Cubao Gym.
Sykes held on to a precarious lead in the final 3 minutes and survived a 5-1 swing in the final 30 seconds of the match.
Mallari scored all but one of his 7 points in the payoff period to keep Sykes alive while Dayao had a team-best 15 points.
Velo and Gella accounted for Sitel’s last five points to finish with 22 and 17 points, in that order, while Balbuena did most of his damage in the first 3 quarter to contribute 19.
Meanwhile, Yoneyama knocked down two crucial freebies to give HSBC the victory over The Results after an evenly-match contest.
He finished with 19 points including a perfect slate from the stripe and three triples. HSBC also drew 14 points from Tayag and 12 from Juare.
Neither side led in double digits and no more than five points in the thrilling fourth quarter affair.
Turingan and Lozada took care of business for The Results with 18 and 16 markers, respectively.
In contrast, UnitedHealth Group trumped IBEX Global, 89-69, while Open Access blasted Accenture, 101-86.
UnitedHealth Group had its way inside the shaded line and managed to fend off all of the attempts for a comeback by the pesky IBEX.
A 10-3 run to start the fourth quarter let UnitedHealth Group, which enjoyed a full-line up, take the fight out of IBEX.
Jay Valdes led with 17 points while Santos and Lacsamana chipped in 15 markers apiece.
Despite just 8 players who scored, IBEX put up a valiant stand led by Norman Galas who had 19 points.
Open Access, meanwhile, broke the game wide open in the third quarter with its starting line-up asserting its might over Accenture Center Functions.
It didn’t matter that Open Access only had eight players as five of them finished in double-digit points.
Mico Co was spectacular for Open Access as he stuffed the stat sheet with 28 points, 19 rebounds and four assists sans a turnover. Nineza added 23 points, nine rebounds and six dimes.
Center Functions actually had a decent showing, even outscoring the opponent inside the paint, but just couldn’t overcome Open Access’ fire power.
Manalansan and Camaya spearheaded the valiant stand by Center Functions with 16 markes apiece.
Startek also came up with a hard-fought victory over Assurant, 85-78.
Startek leaned on a 10-4 finishing kick with Figueroa, Quitan and Santos leading the charge in the last 3 minutes
Figueroa and Quitan accounted for 41 points combined while Santos added 16 for Startek, which led by 11 in the second and third quarters.
Melano led all scores in the game with 27 points for Assurant, but could have even scored more had he not missed 10 attempts from the stripe. He also had 12 boards.
