THE Concentrix Converters booked their spot in the Elite Classic finals after they ousted the Teleperformance Vipers, 72-63, in their do-or-die game in the quarterfinals of the Tanduay Athletics E-Leagues for Basketball at the City Sports Club-Cebu on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020.
The win placed the Converters in the semifinals opposite the Accenture Sharks. Game 1 of the best-of-three series will be played on Saturday, Jan. 18. The winner of this semifinal encounter will advance to the finals against the reigning champions Sykes Pioneers.
Sensing blood in the water after they kept their season alive with a 71-57 win over the Vipers last January 12, the Converters kept it going and dominated the first three cantos to bring a 51-38 lead to the final canto. They then held off Teleperformance’s comeback attempts to book their place in the finals.
Mark Joel Bacho paced Concentrix with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while former Jose Rizal University guard Jay-R Bulangis added 13 markers.
Mon Dico led Teleperformance with 20 points, eight rebounds and four steals but the Vipers could not get the job done in spite owning a twice-to-beat advantage. (JNP)