ITOGON ROLLS PAST KABAYAN, TRINIDAD ROUTS BOKOD

February 9, 2025 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

Itogon and defending champion La Trinidad started their quest for finals slot as they demolished their
respective rivals while avenging their defeats during the eliminations to the same squads in the Cong. Eric Go Yap
Congressional Cup – Benguet Basketball League Wednesday at the Benguet Sports Complex Thursday. Itogon stopped second seed Kabayan, 102-75, while Trinidad needed a third quarter run to turn back Bokod, 102-75.

Itogon was looking at a 10 point advantage at the start of the third canto and that was when the roll started that
practically ended the game middle of the fourth quarter. By then Chad Villanueva and Caballero has claimed the
game as they scored 11 of the team’s last canto 28 point production. Itogon started hotly and was leading by as much as nine, but a furious Kabayan rally saw the latter tie the game middle of the second quarter.

After leading by five, Itogon slowed down to allow Kabayan to move within one, 44-43. Most valuable player top candidate Kim Padawag drained from downtown, to make it a 47-43 Itogon lead. SachiCaballero led all scorers with 22 points while adding five rebounds and nine assists in a near double-double performance. Jan Rasec Ganilo and Kim Padawag had 19 a piece, while Chad Villanueva chipped in 14 markers and a game high 13 rebounds.

Yzer Neil Palispis top scored for Kabayan with 20 points, while Teofilo Albert and Johnny Pascua added 17 and 13 markers, respectively for Kabayan which lost for the first time since its defeat to Tublay in November last year. It was a time for revenge for Trinidad which lost to the same squad just two weeks ago as Bokod went on a five game tear that propelled last year’s bridesmaid to the quarterfinals.

Poor shooting especially in the three point area undid Bokod on a night when Jovencio Caleno barely used the Buenaventura brothers and when reliables Darwin Fernandez and Roy Pulac were absent, the other in street clothes due to an injury from a motorcycle accident, Trinidad took the initiative for the win. From a four point 20-24 deficit, La Trinidad went on a 14-4 run with Jamil Sultan scoring six points all on fast break for a 34-28 Trinidad lead.

A 7-2 Bokod run culminating in a trey for Ray Bilibli saw Bokod take the lead back at 39-36. However, Jason Alvaran tied with a triple at the right corner despite the outstretched hand of June Rey Buenaventura and the game tied at 39-all at halftime. Alvaran and Sultan scored 17 of the team’s second quarter 25 second quarter production. Shawn Aquisay started the third canto with a trey then Sultan continued his fast break success for a 44-39 Trinidad lead.

That started the La Trinidad run with it’s outside hitters draining their basket from long distance. The lead grew with every possession and a big 18 point, 67-49 Trinidad lead at the end of the third canto. Five Trinidad players scored in double digits with Alvaran leading at 19, Armando Pollante and Sultan had 16 a piece, big man Bryan Gravilez made 11, while Shawn Aquisay added 10 on top of 10 assists. Ray Bilibli led all Bokod players with 16, while Nestor Cuilan and Rey Gabino added 12 and 11 markers for Bokod.

Pigeon Lobien