EXL and Optum Global Solutions nipped their foes even as ARMCO and Teleperformance cruised to the victories in the 2017 BPO Classics Intermediate division at the new Phenom Sports Center.
Optum Global Solutions held off Shell Business Operations, 62-57, in the first match of the day of the tournament organized by One Unite Sports & Events, Inc.
With SBO relentlessly trying to cut the lead down, Optum Global Solutions held the forth and never let them get closer than five points.
With Rey David Santos leading the attack, Optum Global Solutions built enough cushion, leading by as much 15 points in the third quarter. He had 18 points, three rebounds and five assists.
EXL, meanwhile, leaned on a third-quarter deluge to beat Concentrix, 94-88.
It was a smoking third quarter for EXL, which went on a 34-15 blast to counter Concentrix’s 28-point second period and take the lead for good.
Down by eight three minutes into the third, EXL quickly retaliated with Jayvee Celadeña knocking down back-to-back triples to get the 58-57 lead.
By the quarter’s end, EXL was holding on to a 13-point advantage, 77-64.
Celadeña continued to be an unstoppable force for EXL as he finished with 38 points including five triples that went along with eight boards and five steals.
Julius Jose added 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three block shots.
In other Intermediate Division results, Alwin Elinon carried ARMCO to a 98-87 domination of Global Payments.
All but one of the nine players who suited up contributed at least two points for ARMCO but Elinon was the star of the night.
Elinon finished with an impressive triple double of 26 points, 22 rebounds, 10 assists.
ARMCO never scored scored lower than 23 points per period, allowing ARMCO to counter whatever Global Payments had to give.
Teleperformance also cruised to an 80-66 triumph over Wells Fargo.
With Teleperformance running the floor, it dictated the tempo and scored 15 off the fastbreak.
Irvin Gomez led the charge for Teleperformance with 20 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals.
It was still a close contest at the half, but Teleperformance broke the game wide open with a 49-point second half.
Julius De Guzman finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds in a losing cause for Wells Fargo, which was also sorely outrebounded, 66-48.
