ITOGON, Benguet – After scoring a monstrous tournament record 48 points in a near triple double performance, Maharlika Professional Basketball League veteran Will Keane Lee followed it up with a game high 43 points and lead defending champion La Trinidad in surviving Tuba, 112-107, in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball League Saturday at the Tuding barangay gym here.
It was another monstrous performance of Lee and his third best player of the game performance, the most this season in the event backed by Rep Yap, the ACT-CIS Partylist, the office of Gov. Melchor Diclas and the Media for Sports Development.5
“Playing in the MPBL really improved my game especially with the daily training, the system and the level of those you play with,” said Lee.
Tuba was actually looking at a potential upset in an action filled Saturday games after the cancellation of games last Tuesday and Thursday and where two steams conjured miracle upsets and host Itogon survive another Buguias shocker.
Tuba even took a five-point lead early in the fourth canto when Nelvin Turtoga drilled a basket and a trey, but Lee responded to give Trinidad back the lead, 89-87.
When Jervie Calivo drained a trey with less than two minutes remaining to give Tuba a 107-104 lead, 2023 season Finals most valuable player Armando Pollante had a basket then drained two of his free throws to give the defending champion a 110-107 lead and less than a minute left.
Lee added nine boards, eight assists and four steals to his stacked-up statistics, while his taller partner Polante added 19 markers on top of his 12 rebounds, four assists, a steal and two blocks.
Shawn Aquisay churned 15 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a single block for La Trinidad which joins Itogon with a 5-0 win-loss slate.
John Cedric Pugong led the way for Tuba with his 21 points and 10 rebounds performance. He dished six assists as well.
Three other Tuba players scored in double digits led by 2023 season MVP Cyril de Vera with 20 points, De Vera had six boards, six dimes, a steal and a block, as well. Calivo and Ralph Gapas added 14 and 13 points, respectively, with the latter adding 13 rebounds.
Tuba fell to 3-2 and behind now to Atok which won earlier in the day for a 2-1 win-loss card.
Gaes resume on Tuesday at the La Trinidad Municipal Gym where the defending champion faces co-leader Itogon in the second game.
