LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Kapangan rallied to win 91-81 against Atok, earning the last quarterfinals spot.
Mankayan secured their quarterfinals place with a tough 72-69 victory over Kabayan in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup.
Trailing by 11 in the first quarter, Kapangan mounted a comeback and took a five-point lead, 44-39, at halftime, with Adam Clee Paraan reporting for the first time midway through that period.
A fired-up Kapangan regained its rhythm and established a 12-point lead.
However, Atok staged a rally, eventually taking a 69-66 lead by the end of the third quarter.
In the final quarter, Kapangan elevated its performance to secure the victory.
Fenrie Atinyao led Kapangan’s effort with 23 points, 15 rebounds aside from dishing five assists, two steals and three blocks.
Jayson Vicente added 20 points, while Paraan came off the bench with nine markers, seven rebounds as well as two assists and four steals.
Kurt Tamiray made 14 points while Denver Ganado added 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in Atok’s losing effort.
Kapangan’s victory improved their record to 6-7, allowing them to secure the seventh seed ahead of Mankayan.
Mankayan was behind Kabayan, 34-24, halfway through the second quarter.
However, a 9-2 run reduced the deficit to just three points, 36-33, by halftime.
Noel Peralta jumped the gun early for a 7-0 run and a 40-36 lead as Mankayan coasted to a 57-43 at the end of the third quarter.
Kabayan managed to reduce the deficit to nine, making the score 52-61, midway through the fourth quarter.
They then launched an 8-0 run, bringing Mankayan’s lead down to just one point, 61-60, with barely three minutes remaining.
However, Mankayan held on, including a crucial block on Pat Merino and Teofilo Albert in the final seconds.
Lenz Antolino led Mankayan with 16 points, six assists, a steal, and two blocks.
Jonathan Peralta added 13 markers with three rebounds and six steals.
Kabayan was led by Kyle Naisod anew with his double double of 21 points, 11 rebounds on top of three assists and a steal, while Albert added 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
The quarterfinals feature matchups between Bokod and Mankayan, La Trinidad and Kapangan, Itogon against Buguias, and Itogon facing La Trinidad 2.
The top four teams have the twice-to-beat advantage.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for November 4 at the Tuba gym, with any potential tiebreaker matches taking place on November 5.
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