Kapangan took full advantage of a tired Kibungan while Tuba used a second and third quarter storms edging their respective foes in the Cong Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball League.
The debuting Kapangan limited Kibungan to an eight – point output in the third quarter and rolled on to pull off an 86-76 win at the Benguet Sports Complex Wednesday for a rousing debut
Rudolf Eilinger and Ferdinand Sapalong, aged 43 and 42, respectively, led their younger teammates in stopping Kibungan which enjoyed an early 10-point lead.
Eilinger, named best player of the game, had a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds on top of four assists, while Sapalong, who played for Itogon last season, made 26 markers as the two led Kapangan to its first win in the 13 – team tournament backed by Rep. Yap.
“Eilinger is good for the team, he can coach inside, he can score and he can defend also,” said coach Euristy Canuto after unleashing his new look team, that got three players from La Trinidad, one from Bakun, one from Itogon and a former University of the Cordilleras player, who was at the top of his game in the mid-2000, to the home and away tournament.
The message, Canuto wants to say, is for them to contend this year.
Alexander Batanes scored 11 points in his debut as a Kapangan player on top of seven boards, an assist and two steals.
Marc Candido, previously of Bakun, orchestrated the offense with his 11 assists, aside from four steals.
Fenrie Atinyao was as reliable as ever as the big man added 12 points on top of five boards and two assists.
Eilinger and Sapalong matched the outside shooting of Kibungan by draining five and three, respectively, from long range.
Romel Lavandia followed up his triple double performance on his debut against Bakun last Saturday with 25 points and 15 boards. He also made four assists and three steals. John Paul Juralbal, another former UC Jaguar, added 15 markers on top of seven rebounds, three dimes and four steals.
Meanwhile, Tuba used a second and third quarter storms to turn a three-point deficit into 30 – point lead and coast to an 80-59 victory over Buguias.
Trailing 15-18 after the first quarter, reigning most valuable player Cyril de Vera led a 27-11 second quarter run as Tuba led 42-29 at halftime.
De Vera had seven of the team’s total output in that frame.
Then it was Nelvin Turtoga’s turn in the third canto when he blew wide open the game with two successive treys and scored eight of the team’s 27 points while allowing only 10 points for the orange shirts.
De Vera and Turtoga finished with identical 12 points, while the former added five boards and dimes and three steals, while the shorter guard had one rebound, assist and steal as the team joined the win column after losing its opener against reigning second placer Bokod last October 12.
“We are starting to gel and the boys start to follow my instructions,” said newly promoted coach Ian Bernal, who played for the team last season.
Bernal has been shoved to the position after then coach Romulo Rimando, Jr. died from cancer last June. Coach Gerry Estranero asked the former University of Baguio Cardinals to take the lead position since he will be leaving for abroad this November to help a kid take care of his grand kids.
He also took former University of the Cordilleras coach Antonio Fernando as assistant but the former Far Eastern University standout had his gall bladder removed this month.
Big men Mark Roston Mamolang and Allan Paul Intervalo scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, to lead Buguias which lost on its debut.
Games tonight will be at the Tublay School of Home Industries, Tublay featuring Tublay againt Atok and Sablan opposite Bakun. CEGYCC Release
