North Luzon Monitor

North Luzon

Itogon solidifies QF berth in CEGYCC

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Itogon made life more difficult and complicated Kapangan’s route to a top four quarterfinals slot by coming from behind to score a 93-85 victory in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball League at the Benguet Sports Complex here Saturday.

Juilus Tiangao hit two important treys, while big man Michael Dannang drained two baskets at crunch time as they led a 10-1 closing run for Itogon to defeat Kapangan which now needs to win its last two remaining games to contend for the last of the top four slots.

With 2:15 remaining, Tiangao drilled the all-important three to give Itogon an 86-84 lead. Its first since taking an early third quarter seven-point advantage.

Rudolf Eilinger then hit the second of free throws in the ensuing Kapangan play to move within one, 85-86.

After Eilinger was called for travelling under the basket with 1:31 remaining, Danang made it an 88-85 Itogon advantage with a basket from eight feet and 1:18 remaining.

Itogon’s youngest player then made a similar shot from rainbow country and a 91-85 breather with 1:02 remaining.

Kapangan failed to shoot the basket with no time left setting up Dannang for the icing with another basket with 34.7 remaining which was the final score.

Tiangao and Jan Rasec Ganilo top scored for Itogon with 15 each, with Ganilo, a University of the Cordilleras standout adding 11 rebounds and six assists.

Dannang and Padawag, who both came midway in the first canto, made 13 each with the former adding 10 boards, while Chad Villanueva added nine markers and a team high 14 boards. Itogon finished the league with a 10-2 win-loss card and may finish not lower than third place before the quarterfinals.

Ferdinand Sapalong led Kapangan with 18 points, while Eilinger made another triple double of 16 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists.

Big man Fenrie Atinyao added 13 for Kapangan which slipped to 6-4 and needs to beat Atok and Sablan to give itself a chance, though slim for the fourth spot and twice to beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

Padawag meanwhile leads the most valuable player trophy after finishing with a third best 21.67 points per game average, while hauling a 6.11 rebounds per game and dishing 7.11 assists a game, the second best in the league.

Eilinger is expected to win rookie of the year award with a 17.78 PPG, and league highs of 19 RPG and 7.56 APG. CEGYCC Release

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