LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – In an exhilarating showdown at the Benguet Sports Complex, La Trinidad 1 emerged victorious in the inaugural Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup, fending off a spirited charge from Bokod to secure a 65-60 win on Wednesday.
The game was a rollercoaster of momentum swings.
La Trinidad 1 had established a commanding 24-point lead in the middle of the second quarter, but Bokod relentlessly chipped away at the deficit.
Despite trailing, Bokod’s late surge kept the game tense and competitive until the final seconds.
At a critical juncture with a 52-50 deficit, a potential tying basket by Bokod’s Roy Pulac was negated by an offensive foul, allowing La Trinidad 1’s Armando Pollante to extend their lead to 55-50 with a clutch three-pointer.
The game remained intense as Bokod fought fiercely, inching as close as one point multiple times.
In the closing moments, La Trinidad 1’s Neil Ulep delivered crucial points, granting them a four-point lead, 64-60.
Bokod’s attempts to narrow the gap fell short, sealing the victory for La Trinidad 1 with a final score of 65-60.
Post-game, La Trinidad 1’s Kean Lee acknowledged the missed opportunities by Bokod, emphasizing their team’s ability to capitalize on turnovers.
“A turn over for them is an opportunity for us to score. We just took advantage of those,” Lee said.
Lee attributed their motivation to recent wins over top teams, highlighting their determination to secure the victory.
Coach Jong del Rosario acknowledged the team’s lapse in the third and fourth quarters, allowing Bokod to gain momentum.
“We relaxed and they got the momentum,” del Rosario said.
Despite the lapse, the team’s early lead proved pivotal in securing their win.
Pollante led La Trinidad’s charge with 17 points, securing his second consecutive finals MVP with a stellar performance.
Ulep and Kean Zachary Diaz contributed significantly with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The win awarded La Trinidad 1 with P250,000, while the La Trinidad Municipal Employees Cooperative, its designated beneficiary, received PhP150,000.
Bokod claimed P150,000, while the Amukdaw Marginalized Fisherfolks Association took home P100,000 for the team’s second-place finish.
Itogon’s earnings swelled by P100,000 as they secured the third spot, and their designated beneficiary, the People With Disability of Tuding Association, received P80,000.
The event also honored outstanding players, with Cyril de Vera named season MVP.
In the distinguished first mythical team, standout players include John Ric Buenaventura, Jude Quitolbo, Fenrie Atinyao, alongside de Vera and Pollante, while the second mythical team featured talents like Kurt Tamiray, Kyle Naisod, Rey Gabino, John Cedric Pugong, and Nicanor Menzi Jr.
Most of the awardees, except Gabino, were set to participate in the Benguet All-Stars versus the PBA Motoclub, showcasing Benguet’s finest talents in a thrilling exhibition match on November 30th.
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