LATE FEBRUARY COMPLETION OF TWO LEAGUE CONG. YAP CUP EXPECTED

December 28, 2024 Community Billboard

READY AND WAITING. On La Trinidad’s Floralex Budas awaits for Tublay’s next move during their match in the on-going Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Women’s V-League. Photo by Roderick Osis

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

With 54 games finished in men’s basketball of the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup and 48 finished matches in women’s volleyball, the elimination rounds in both leagues are expected to be completed by the end of January if the league restarts on January 5. The four-week schedule on January will have 24 basketball games, while volleyball games will have 30 or six more, thanks to the six cancelled games in December 22 due to request of representatives from the northern towns.

League commissioner Roderick Osis said that games are expected to be finished by February as the elimination
rounds are expected to be completed by late January. Basketball could be finished as early as January 24, while volleyball, on the other hand is expected to end by January 29 due to the six unplayed games last December 22. While January 15 will be the last weekday game in basketball, three weekday schedules are eyed for volleyball to make up for those six missed games.

The quarterfinals is expected to roll on January 31 for basketball and February 1 for volleyball. February 3, 5 and 7 are reserved for the rubber matches, if not then the leagues will be finished a week earlier. From there, the top eight
teams will go to the quarterfinals where the first four battle the bottom tier teams with the top seed facing the eighth and so on. The higher ranked teams have a twice to beat advantage.

Osis said that the semifinals will be a round robin format for the Final Four teams in both competitions. The top two teams after the round robin will advance to the best of three finals. As of December 19, La Trinidad still leads the pack with a 9-1 win-loss card followed by Itogon (8-1), Tuba (8-2 and Kabayan at 5-2. Last year’s bridesmaid, Bokod is currently at fifth spot with a 4-3 slate, followed by Kapangan with a 3-3 card.

Neighbors Mankayan and Buguias are currently tied at seventh with a similar 3-4 card followed by Tublay at 3-5. In volleyball, Sablan is Sablan 6 and 0 to lead the 13 team competitions. By surviving Tublay last December 20, La Trinidad is at second spot with 8-1, followed by Kapangan at 6-1 and Tuba is at fourth with a Tuba 5-2 card. The bottom tier includes Tublay (4-3), Itogon (4 -3), Buguias (3-3) and Mankayan at 3-5.

It was whirlwind two league Cong Yap Cup that started last October 12 with several cancelled games due to the typhoons in the first two months. Games were played first at the Benguet Sports Complex then at La Trinidad gym,
Kapangan, Tublay, Itogon and Tuba.

December 28, 2024

December 28, 2024