Telstra and Sitel handily defeated their foes while Eastvantage, Bayer and Converga took the harder routes in the 2016 BPO Classics Recreational Divison last November 12.
With a sheer advantage off the glass, Telstra demolished PPOC, 74-53, at STI Academic Center Cubao in Quezon City.
Thanks to Chris Charron who had a whopping 22 rebounds that went with nine points, Telstra sorely outrebounded PPOC, 61-37.
John Peneiro and Ryan De Venecia took care of the scoring with 20 and 18 points, respectively.
It was a close game in the first period until Telstra unleashed a 16-4 run that let them pull away for good. The team led by as much as 29 late.
Jerryfer Monte and Jose Talosig each put in 12 points in a losing effort for PPOC.
Meanwhile, Sitel didn’t control the boards but still dominated Sourcefit, 60-41.
Despite a 51-54 deficit on rebounds, Sitel controlled the paint, 40-46, to help them take an early lead that would balloon to as big as 25.
John Rivera topscored with 13 points off the bench while for Sitel while Zaldy Gomez and Kurt Kabuhal added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Only one player finished in double digits for SourceFit with EJ Pajayon scoring 14 points and registering eight rebounds.
Over at the EJG Lucky Gym in Paranaque, Eastvantage turned back I-Support, 70-56.
Even with I-Support knocking on the door, Eastvantage protected its double-digit lead in the payoff period.
Eastvantage drew solid performances from AJ Firmalino, who had 20 points and 14 boards, and Lui Magallanes, who added 14 markers.
I-Support just lacked the firepower to overtake its foe with only Tristan Royce Donato shining with 16 points.
Bayer likewise held on to a safe lead in the fourth quarter en route to a 74-66 triumph over Eximius.
With a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Bayer had to fend off all attempts of a comeback for Eximius, which came to as close as 7.
Bayer neutralized Eximius advantage downlow by knocking down seven triples—two from Eric Arriola who led with 22 points and three from Shaquille Chinchontic who added 14.
The tandem of Aris and Aaron Aquino kept Eximius alive as they finished with 23 and 19 points, in that order, with the latter also plucking 13 rebounds.
Converga also hung tough to beat Eclaro, 60-55.
The team lead on steady hands down the stretch with all but two of Converga’s last nine points coming from the freethrow line.
Converga held a slim lead throughout the fourth but Eclaro managed to come within two with 28 ticks left.
Chris Conde was tremendous for Converga with 25 points including 8-of-9 shooting from the stripe that went with 11 rebounds.
Joel Jacinto, on the other hand, carried Eclaro with 21 points including the team’s final basket.
