KAPANGAN, Benguet – Kapangan rebounded from an upset loss to Buguias with a bang and earned what could be yet the biggest upset in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Men’s Basketball League by beating Bokod Saturday at the Tuding barangay gym here.
Kapangan got the best from its second stringers and helped veteran Rudolf Eilinger to 101 – 82 beating of Bokod, last year’s bridesmaid which was unbeaten in the elimination round.
Kapangan started slowly and trailed much of the first quarter but a late charge put them in command to take the lead at 27-23 and never looked back.
It was yet an even fight in the second quarter where Bokod even outscored Kapangan 22-21 for a 48-45 halftime lead for the western town.
When Rudolf Eilinger completed his free throws with under six minutes left, Kapangan’s lead already ballooned to 20, but Bokod fought back to trim it to only nine, 71-62 going to the final quarter.
It was the last stand for Bokod, however, as its men failed to convert that Kapangan took advantage of and stepped on the gas to put the game away.
Eilinger showed the way again for Kapangan with 26 big points and 20 rebounds. He also added eight assists and a single steal.
Ferdinand Sapalong came home to his place of work minutes before the Tublay – Kabayan game and were cheered by as manty as 10 boys. Later, he was drilling threes as if the ring is five feet wide and 18 big points to show at the end of the game.
Sapalong was absent in the Buguias debacle.
“We (with Sapalong) talked to our second stringers before the game and told them that we need them or else we will lose. They responded,” said the Baguio Colleges Foundation (University of the Cordilleras) alum, who had stints in Manila.
“We can win if we have you,” Eilinger told his team mates. Adam Clee responded with 12 points.
John Ric Buenaventura led all scorers with 29 points for the losing Bokod team, while Ray Bilibli added 12 markers.
