LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Tublay battled from a 10-point hole and nipped Buguias 89-88 to end its second season on a high note and may even vie for the eighth and last quarterfinals slot of the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball League at the Benguet Sports Complex here Saturday.
Prado Domerez and Nicanor Menzi, Jr. were the one-two punch for Tublay as they punched their way of the hole to take command of the game late in the fourth quarter and never looked back.
Domerez topscored with 22 points as he combined with Menzi to beat the short – handed Fernando Bacani, Jr. – led squad to the win and ended its campaign with a 5-7 win-loss card and may vie for the last spot if Mankayan loses its last two games.
“They were visibly tired and made advantage of that,” said Menzi, who had 19 points and 13 rebounds as he took top honors for his team for the third time. He came short of a triple-double as he dished nine assists and stole twice.
Menzi said they took advantage of the absence of Buguias playmaker Karl Pangosban, who committed his fifth and final foul with under two minutes in the third quarter.
“Without him, we had to ran them down knowing that they will get tired soon,” added Menzi.
“We just hope that Mankayan loses its last two games, then maybe we can sneak past them for the last slot,” added Menzi in the vernacular.
Four Buguias players scored in double figures with Jumar Pulido making a game high 23 points, big man Arthes Say Bataclao had 18 points, Bacani had 16 points and a game high 15 rebounds, while Joaquin Daysa chipped in 10 markers for Buguias which ended its campaign with a 6-6 card.
Buguias is guaranteed a seventh-place finish and will meet the number two squad in the quarterfinals.
Kapangan is leading Itogon 29-22 as of this writing, with most valuable player top contender Kim Padawag arriving late in the first quarter. CEGYCC Release