Kapangan, Mankayan catches last 2 q’finals seat
HANGTIME. Kabayan’s Teofilo Albert hangs in mid-air past Mankayan defenders during their match–up in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Tuesday evening at the Benguet Sports Complex Gym. Mankayan however would escape with a win and earn a quarterfinal slot in the competition. MSD photo release
Kapangan overcame a cold first half and cruised to a 91-81 victory over upset conscious Atok to get the last quarterfinals slot while Mankayan booked itself a quarterfinals berth after a hard fought victory over Kabayan, 72-69, in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup.
Down by as much as 11 in the first canto, Kapangan rallied to take a five-point, 44-39, lead at halftime with Adam Clee Paraan reporting for the first time halfway into that period.
A pumped-up Kapangan found its rhythm to take a 12-point lead before Atok rallied and even took a 69-66 lead at the end of the third canto.
Kapangan, however, stepped up its game in the last quarter to coast for the win.
Fenrie Atinyao led Kapangan’s effort with 23 points, and 15 rebounds aside from dishing five assists, two steals, and three blocks.
Jayson Vicente added 20 points, while Paraan came off the bench with nine markers, seven rebounds as well as two assists and four steals.
Kurt Tamiray made 14 points while Denver Ganado added 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Atok’s losing effort.
Kapangan with the win improved to 6-7 win-loss card and thus grabbed the seventh seed ahead of Mankayan.
Mankayan, meanwhile trailed Kabayan, 34-24, halfway in the second canto but a 9-2 run cut the deficit to only three, 36-33, at halftime.
Noel Peralta jumped the gun early for a 7-0 run and a 40-36 lead as Mankayan coasted to a 57-43 at the end of the third quarter.
Kabayan was able to reduce the deficit to nine, 52-61, halfway into the fourth canto then mounted an 8-0 run to cut Mankayan’s leads by one, 61-60, and barely three minutes remaining.
But Mankayan hangs on including a rejection of Pat Merino and Teofilo Albert in the dying seconds.
Lenz Antolino led Mankayan with 16 points including six assists, a steal, and two blocks.
Jonathan Peralta added 13 markers with three rebounds and six steals.
Kabayan was led by Kyle Naisod anew with his double-double of 21 points, and 11 rebounds on top of three assists and a steal, while Albert added 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
The quarterfinals thus pits number 1 Bokod opposite Mankayan, La Trinidad versus Kapangan, Itogon facing Buguias, and Itogon up against La Trinidad 2. The top four are twice to beat.
The quarterfinals are set for November 4 at the Tuba gym. The rubber match, if there is one, will be on November 5. MSD release
