TUBA, Benguet – Tuba manhandled an undermanned Itogon squad and win 107-91 to improve to 4 and 2 in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup at the municipal gym here Friday.
The threesome of Cyril de Vera, John Cedric Pugong and Amiel Gacula found a reliable big man in Benedict Antonio in handing the Itogon squad its back to back defeat in the two week old tournament backed by Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, ACT-CIS Party List and Office of Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas.
De Vera again paced the home team with another high of 39 points on top of nine boards, while Antonio had a double-double of 18 markers and 13 rebounds aside from three assists and a single steal.
Pugong may have just scored six points, but he pulled down 20 rebounds as he and Antonio dominated Itogon’s biggies Omer Beluch and Jude Quitolbo.
Itogon came to as close to six with less than five minutes remaining but six unanswered points saw Tuba lead by double digit.
“We are clearly gelling now. Our communication between the players inside is good, thus the better play. Unlike in the first game, where we really struggled to find the right blending,” said de Vera.
“Now the big men are really involved in our game and contribute to our cause,” added de Vera in mixed English and Filipino.
Quitolbo led Itogon with 24 points, while Julius Mancio and point guard Sachi Caballero added 20 and 13 markers, respectively. It was the team’s second straight defeat after a home loss to league leader Trinidad 1 Thursday.
Meanwhile, La Trinidad 2 started slowly but got their rhythm in the second canto and walked off with an easy victory, 91-67, on Tublay.
Lloyd Dennis Calma drained six treys to top score for the second Valley squad with 18 which cruised to its fourth win in five outings to overtake Itogon which lost to Tuba also Friday night.
Dante Obillo made four from beyond the arch to backstop Calma with 12 points.
Leonard Tad-o and Rey Angelo Jayco paced Tublay with 19 and 17 points, respectively.
Five games are scheduled at the Tuba municipal gym Saturday with Friday’s winners – Trinidad 2 and Tuba – facing each other in the curtain raiser. La Trinidad 1 is expected to cruise to its seventh win when it faces winless Kibungan, while Itogon is expected to bounce back against Atok.
On Sunday at the Benguet State University gym, Bokod faces Bakun for its fifth game and supposedly win, while Trinidad 2 tests Itogon in game three that day. Trinidad 1 could get its eighth win by facing Kapangan.
Exciting to see also on Sunday is the Buguias and Kabayan face off with Jan Earl Agayao try to outdo scoring leader Kyle Adrich Naisod.
