LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Alexander Batanes scored four of Kapangan’s last five points and led his team to a 99-95 win over upset conscious Mankayan in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball League Saturday at the Benguet Sports Complex here.
Batanes got the board after Fenrie Atinyao missed his second free throw then scored on a putback. After Mankayan missed on the next play, Batanes again scored after a rebound.
It was a tight ball game with Mankayan hoping to improve on a possible sixth place finish, and deny Kapangan a chance for the top four slot.
Behind 83-85 midway in the fourth canto, Kapangan staged a 10-0 run that saw them take an 93-85 lead with less than two minutes left.
Rogen Del-isen completed a three – point play then Lindon de Guzman tied the game at 95-all after a basket and a trey.
Batanes scored 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the team’s victory even as Rudolf Eilinger has apparently secured the first rookie award with his 27-24 score-rebound double-double. He added seven assists and a steal for another stellar performance as he also makes a strong case for a mythical five selection.
Kapangan big man Fenrie Atinyao completed the dominance of the team’s big three with a 19-11 double-double performance.
Lindon de Guzman matched Eilinger’s performance with 27 dimes while adding six rebounds and five assists. De Guzman is second in terms of scoring in the league with 29.13 points per game including a personal best 53 points, which is also the league’s second best.
Adrian Sison scored 13 of his 16 markers in the second period, while Michael Gacula and Joshua Artime had 12 markers each with the former pulling down 10 boards.
With the win, Kapangan improved to 6-3 and a window to a top four slot remains open.
Kapangan has Sablan, Itogon and Atok for its last three games and a big chance to take its ninth victory and a top four finish with Itogon as the only team capable of beating it. CEGYCC Release
