Inaugural Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup signals the dawn of intense competition
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipalities of Bokod, Itogon and La Trinidad are among the early favorites when the first Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup tips-off next month.
Bokod, on paper, is the strongest with six former college varsity teams in its line-up, three of them former champions.
Brothers June Rey and John Ric Buenaventura, both standout players from Bokod, are players to watch, particularly June Rey, who played a pivotal role in securing the 2016 championship for the University of the Cordilleras (UC), earning him the well-deserved title of Most Valuable Player for that remarkable season.
The big man is backed by a reliable point guard in his younger brother John Ric, who led UC to another title in 2017.
Rey Gabino hopes to bring back the glory days of the Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC) as he suits up for the team from the home of the Ambuklao Dam.
Gabino was instrumental during the back-to-back wins of the La Trinidad school in 2007 and 2008, where he joined the likes of sweet shooting Harold Sabado and the high leaping Aaron Aquino.
The Admirals defeated perennial powerhouse University of Baguio (UB) Cardinals in the 2007 season of the Baguio Benguet Educational Athletic League (BBEAL).
Among the roster is Ramil Alimba, a former standout of SLU’s basketball team, who back in 2008, faced off against Gabino and the Admirals.
Despite entering the decisive third game at the UC gym as the top seed following the eliminations, Alimba’s team experienced a heartbreaking loss.
In the lineup, there are also two ex-CCDC players who once shared the court with the Buenaventura brothers: Darwin Fernandez and Nestor Cuillan.
Their contributions were instrumental in CCDC’s achievement of securing the first runner-up position in 2015.
Nevertheless, Cuillan is set to be absent for a significant portion of the initial phase of the tournament.
This is due to the fact that four fingers of his right hand are still in the process of healing after an accident during the havoc caused by typhoon Egay.
During the typhoon’s rampage, Cuillan, now a dedicated policeman, played a crucial role in the town’s rescue missions.
“It is one of the teams we will be watching,” La Trinidad team B co-coach Dennis Billanes said.
Billanes mentioned this as they were in the process of submitting the rosters for the two teams representing the capital town.
Additionally, the players’ measurements were taken for the uniforms, which were generously provided by the congressman.
“Bokod has a pretty strong line-up,” an employee from the La Trinidad mayor’s office said.
However, this assessment doesn’t overshadow the potential of Itogon, featuring former UC standout Chad Villanueva, now a police officer in the same town.
La Trinidad’s first team will lean on present CCDC coach Manual Felix, Jr., who played alongside Cuillan in the latter part of 2010.
The big man, who is a dependable ball carrier, will be joined by former Baguio College of Technology (BCT) big man Armando Pollante and former Saint Louis University (SLU) player Clyde Earle Habon.
Current CCDC players Neil Ralph Ulep and Will Kean Lee, including former CCDC head coach Kurt Panagan will also beef up the capital town’s squad in the semi-home and away format that will last for at least three months.
Games are expected to be played in all towns, except Bakun which will need neighbor Kibungan to host their games.
The Congressional Cup is expected to start early September with the single round robin eliminations expected to be finished by the end of October.
The finals are anticipated to conclude by the third week of November, aligning with the awards ceremony coinciding with the Adivay or Benguet Day celebration.
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