ATOK SHOCKS TUBA, BOKOD EXTENDS STREAK TO EIGHT IN CONGRESSIONAL CUP

October 14, 2023 Community Billboard Sports

ATOK, Benguet

Atok scored the biggest upset to date in the ongoing Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup with a win against one of the tournament favorite Tuba during the weekend. Tuba started coldly with its
second stringers as starting unit which Atok took advantage off. Picking – up from where they left in the opening canto, Atok started with a 10- 2 run in the first three minutes of play for a 53-45 lead in the third period. Tuba came as close to five in the payoff canto but never completed any run.

Atok coach Jay Pagadora said prayer and trust paid off after beating one of the most fancied teams to make a deep run in the post season in the event backed by Cong. Eric Go Yap, Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas. Kurt Tamiray, who helped Cordillera Career Development win back – to – back crown in 2008 and 2009, led Atok with 27 points on top of five rebounds, two assists and two steals. But Atok’s magical run against Tuba after La Trinidad 2 sent them crashing back to
reality with a 116 – 78 loss with Tamiray getting ejected after committing two unsportsmanlike foul.

Aaron Nang-is led Trinidad 2 with 19 points for his third best player of the game honor. It was Trinidad’s first win after three successive defeats. Tuba meanwhile bounced back Sunday right at their home turf with a convincing victory against Mankayan, 115 – 84. John Cedric Pugong almost
made it a double – double with 16 points and nine boards. He added three assists and steals. But Mankayan survived a fighting Bakun and win, 79-69, after four straight defeats during their home game on Tuesday.

Mankayan struggled early as Bakun put on the pressure to take an early 7-4 lead. Up by one, 34-33, with less than a minute to go, Mankayan in a frenetic finish completed a 4-0 run and lead 39-33 at halftime. Jonathan Peralta led Mankayan with 22 points, while Lenz Antolino and Felix Balais,
Jr. added 10 each for the team’s second win in six outings in the event also supported by the Office of Gov. Melchor Diclas and Hypro energy drink. Bokod meanwhile scored back-to back victories during the weekend for their eight wins in eight outings.

After trailing by six in the opening canto against Kabayan on Sunday, Bokod mounted a 19-2 run in the next seven minutes for 19-8 lead. From then on, Bokod never looked back cruising to a 97-75
win. Joshua Pascua led four other Bokod players in double digit with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals as well as a single block. On Saturday, Bokod also cruised to a 95 – 81 win against La Trinidad 2. Darwin Fernandez had 18 markers while John Ric Buneventura added 22 while brother June Rey chipped in 15 aside from hauling nine boards, dish four dimes, three steals
and three blocks.

Two other Bokod players scored 10 or more with Rayell Williams making 14 and Rey Gabino chipped in 10. Aaron Nang-is led Trinidad 2 with 15, while Lloyd Calma added 11. In other games, Itogon started slowly but came out a 99-88 winner over a gritty Buguias for its seventh win in the tournament also backed by Hypro Energy Drink. Itogon started slowly, even trailed in the first canto but managed to take a 21-20 lead. Julius Mancio, Padawag and Jude Quitalbo led Itogon
with 19, 18 and 16 points, with the last adding 14 boards for a double – double.

Buguias however bounced back in Mankayan on Tuesday to beat Tublay, 81-73. It was Kurke Simeon who led Buguias as they went supernova to erase a 34-36 deficit, blow the game wide open and the lead at 60-41. Simeon led Buguias with 37 points on top of seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Joaquin Daysa added 18 as Buguias improved to 3-3, which is good for seventh spot in the 14 team league. Sablan meanwhile survived Bakun, 84-81, and end a five game losing streak.

Micheal Panagan, Carvin Jay Velasco and Jeremiah Buslay led Sablan with 10 each. Kapangan extended their win streak to three for their fourth win in seven outings against Kabayan on Saturday at the Sablan Municipal Gym, 84 – 76. Five players scored in double digits as Kibungan
defeats host Sablan to finally win its first, 93-87. Ryan Contada led Kibungan with 15 points even
as Jade Roxas made 13 and the trio of Norman Danglay, Octavio Cuanso, Jr. and Jeffrey Abansi added 10 markers with the last completing a double double after hauling 13 boards on top of two assists, two steals and a lone block.

After five straight losses, Kibungan jumped the gun early on a cold Sablan squad as it outscored the host 32-18 at the end of the first canto. The lead increased to 24 at halftime, 57-33, and Kibungan
never looked back as it cruised to its very first win. Meanwhile, erstwhile leader La Trinidad 1, after losing to Bokod at home Thursday, vented its ire on a hapless Tublay to win 120-65. Seven of the eight players who went to Sablan scored in double digit with John Tuazon and Jamil Sultan making 20 points, Kenneth Antonio had 19, Jan Fianza and Armando Pollante chipped in 16 a piece.

Neil Ulep and Alexander Batanes chipped in 14 and 10, respectively. Batanes and Pollante both
made double double after adding 12 and 11 boards, respectively. Nicanor Menzi, Jr. also made a double – double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Casey Tagulao added 17 for the losing Tublay squad, which now totes a 2-5 card. Rex Kitayan top scored with 22 points.

MSD Release