North Luzon Monitor

North Luzon

Sablan escapes misfiring Tublay for first win, as Tuba nips Kapangan in Yap Cup

SABLAN, Benguet – Tublay failed to convert 11 of its fourth quarter 13 free throws and came up short against Sablan, 50-48 in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball League at the Sablan Municipal gym Tuesday.

In what could yet be the lowest combined score that broke the earlier scores of Tuba and Kapangan, Sablan took advantage of Tublay’s poor free throw shooting to escape with the win.

“It’s all just the breaks of the game. We had the composure at the end game, which we did not have in our losing effort against Bakun in Tublay last week,” said coach Allan Contero of the close encounter with Tublay, where the team’s top scorer was the shortest man on court, Khurt Ciano.

Ciano scored nine points only including missing the four free throws in the closing period of the game.

Patrick Shontogan also made his presence felt late in the game, making all his six points in that period including the basket that almost sealed the deal for Sablan, a steal leading to a basket and a 48-45 lead.

Diether Bulso and Jadway Millet also made six markers but made 11 and 13 rebounds, respectively.

Nicanor Menzi, Jr. did the yeoman’s task for Tublay by making six of the visiting team’s 12 last quarter points. But he was just as miserable at the free throw line where he missed three of his five free throws.

Charlton Dagwasi had 11 points, including a trey with less than 30 seconds left to bring Tublay to within a point.

His partner in the third period assault, Prado Domerez, Jr. gave eight but missed all his four free throws.  He combined with Dagwasi for 13 of the team’s third quarter 15-point production to give Tublay a 36-35 lead.

Games continue on Thursday at Kapangan, if weather allows it, as typhoon Kristine is about to make a landfall and signal number 1 has been hoisted in the Cordilleras including Benguet.

Earlier, Jervie Calivo led Tuba out of the tunnel and to victory over Kapangan, 58-53.

After back-to-back treys by the oldest players on the court, Rudolf Eilinger and Ferdinand Sapalong (ages 43 and 42, respectively), with a little less than four minutes, Tuba masterfully staged a 12-0 run that all but erased Kapangan’s lead.

It was a sad endgame for Kapangan as it lost Sapalong to sprain with less than three minutes remaining in the game.

“Defense really played for us. We concentrated on that and thanks to that, we won,” said Tuba coach Ian Bernal, who missed their game against Tublay last Saturday.

Calivo scored 10 points in a low scoring Tuesday night that included the six-point outburst in the last 90 seconds of play. The 11 is the league’s lowest so far. Kapangan’s output of 53 ties Tublay’s losing effort against La Trinidad exactly a week ago here.

Nelvin Turtoga and Cyril de Vera added nine and seven points, respectively, with last season’s most valuable player adding 14 rebounds.

Heavenry Pundag and Adam Clee led Kapangan with 10 points a – piece, while Sapalong and Eilinger had nine and four points but had monstrous rebounding performances with 10 and 21, respectively.

Tuba improved to 3-1 card, behind powerhouses Itogon and defending champion La Trinidad at 3-0 and Bokod, last season’s bridesmaid at sole second with a 2-0 slate.

Host Sablan and guest Tublay are tangled at 6-6 at the end of the first quarter in the second of the two games slated at this town at the middle of Quirino Highway.

Games on Thursday will be in Kapangan, if weather permits. With typhoon Kristine gaining strength as she nears landfall and the province already under signal number 1, games are threatened to be cancelled by game time.

Thursday games will see Bakun facing Tublay, while Kapangan hosts Buguias in the second game on the night before the town’s celebration of the Indigenous Day. CEGYCC Release

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