LA TRINIDAD 1 TAKES GAME 1 IN CONG. YAP CUP FINALS

November 26, 2023 Community Billboard Sports

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

La Trinidad 1 weathered Bokod and win 83-77 in game one of the best of three finals and is just a game away from winning the inaugural Cong Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup at the Benguet Sports Complex in Wangal here Wednesday night. Trinidad was all business where it trailed the visitors by
only at least five minutes of the entirety of the game. Trinidad 1 came to the game with its guns a blazing with Jason Alvaran drilling two treys early for a 6-0 lead.

The team was leading in the first minutes of play with the biggest at 13, 31-18, then a reversal happened in the event backed by the Offices of Cong. Eric Go Yap, Gov. Melchor Diclas, the ACT-CIS Partylist and the Media for Sports Development. With Gerald Abella drilling a twinner, 5:24 into the second half for a 35-25 Trinidad 1 lead, Bokod found its footing to stage a 13-0 run and the visitors suddenly took the driver’s seat, 37-35, 2:56 left in the second canto.

But Abella evened it with a strong drive to the hoop and 2:38 remaining. Bokod outscored Trinidad
1 7-5 to take a 44-42 lead at halftime. “Defense did not work, sadly we focused on offense, but in the fourth (quarter) we got (our groove) back,” Armando Pollante said. “Siguro tapusin na sa next game, we will definitely give our everything” added Pollante, who scored 17 points and hauled 18 rebounds. He added an assist, two steals and two blocks.

“Nag-relax, at ang second unit not aware of what must be done. But then I told them to stop John Ric (Buenaventura), (Rey) Gabino and (Daryl) Fernandez, but did not anticipate Shane Balnges,
Jonrey (Buenaventura) we tried to stop totally,” said coach Jong del Rosario. “Will try to finish it
and we expect they will adjust.” “Credits to the players, great adjustment by Bokod,” he added.

Will Kean Lee, who just came from a game versus Baguio College of Technology at the University of the Philippines – Baguio along with Neil Ulep, Kean Diaz and coach Felix Manuel where they won,
added 16 points, eight boards, seven assists, and a steal and block each. Clyde Habon, who fouled
out with 2:16 left in the game, added 16 points, while Alvaran, who drilled two treys early, made 11 markers. Ramil Alimba led Bokod with 21 points and 15 boards, while Fernandez and Balnges
added 18 and 13 markers, respectively.

MSD