LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Bokod had a slow first quarter, trailed by as much as nine, but then got its rhythm to give Buguias an 89-67 beating to improve to 7-3 (win-loss) and give its drive for the top four slot a shot in the arm in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball Lague at the Benguet Sports Complex here Saturday.
Roy Pulac, Jr. and the Buenaventura brothers combined forces as they fought from a 20-23 first canto deficit to turn it into 50-38 half time lead.
The former Baguio Benguet Educational Athletic League rivals finished with a combined for 48 points in the victory that brought the bridesmaid from last year to within two steps of the coveted top four position.
Pulac had 18 points as the former Baguio College of Technology led all Bokod scorers and added a team high 10 boards. Fromer University of the Cordilleras standouts June Rey and John Ric Buenaventura, Pulac’s rivals for the 2016 BBEAL crown, added 17 and 13 points, respectively.
Shane Balnges was practically Bokod’s steadiest member as he cooly made 12 points while hauling seven rebounds. It was the lowest output yet for Balnges in the last four games. He scored 28 points in their losing effort to Kabayan before the Christmas break last year. He top scored with 32 in their win over Bakun last Tuesday.
“We have to win the last two remaining games,” cried the Buenaventura brothers, who are present anew with the older June Rey missing at least six games and is now closer to his semblance in college where he was a dominant factor for UC.
“There is a chance to beat La Trinidad with (Armando) Pollante and (Will Keane) Lee out,” echoed June Rey. Pollante was his biggest rival during their college days but he was able to pull the win against the Trinidad player.
Buguias, which came to the game dead set to upset Bokod, was led by Fernando Bacani, Jr. again with a double-double performance, 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Karl Pangosban and Mark Mamolang, who graduated with more than three minutes, added 17 and 14 markers, respectively.
Buguias fell to 5-5 (win-loss) and is expected to finish the elimination round not lower than eight spot or not higher than seventh.
Bokod has to win its last two games against Tublay and La Trinidad to finish with 9-3 and an assurance of a top four finish.
If it loses to Trinidad, Bokod will hope that Tuba will lose to Kabayan on Tuesday or to Itogon today. At 7-2, Kabayan has the biggest chance of making it to the magical 9 wins for a spot in the top four.
At 9-1, Itogon is already assured to take a top four slot, while La Trinidad is the first to qualify and may even take the top spot with a game to go.
Kapangan at 5-3 is also contending for the last top four spot and must have to win its last four games to get into nine wins. That starts as of this writing against Mankayan which it leads 33-26 as of this writing.
The 4-4 Mankayan and Buguias are tied for seventh spot.
Two of its three remaining games after today are winnable, against Sablan on Thursday and against Atok on January 21. It will face the 9-1 Itogon next Saturday. CEGYCC Release
