TUBA, Benguet – The stage is set for an exciting showdown as the top four seeds of the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup aim to assert their dominance in the quarterfinals while the lower seeds, armed with a “twice to beat” advantage, seek to upset the order.
The action is all set to unfold at the Tuba gym in Poblacion on Saturday, November 4.
Bokod and La Trinidad 1 are eyeing a direct path to the elite eight as they face off against the last two teams vying for the coveted spots in the quarterfinals.
The day’s proceedings will kick off with the second-seeded La Trinidad 1 taking on the late entry, Kapangan, at 9 AM.
Following that, we have the clash between Bokod and the underdog, Mankayan.
Mankayan’s journey to the quarterfinals was nothing short of remarkable.
After losing three times in the preliminary rounds, they secured their place in the top eight with a crucial victory over Kabayan on October 24.
However, this achievement was confirmed with trepidation, as Atok almost played the spoiler role in the final game of the 91-game schedule.
Atok started strongly, leading by 11 early in the game, but a fierce second-half resurgence from Kapangan sealed their fate, resulting in a 91-81 win. Kapangan secured the seventh spot on a 6-7 win-loss record, while Mankayan grabbed the eighth spot with a 5-9 card. Atok and Bakun tied at 4-9.
The top two seeds are expected to cruise past their quarterfinal rivals.
If not, a rubber match is scheduled for the next day, ensuring intense battles in the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup.
In the afternoon session, Itogon will take on the sixth-seeded Buguias, who are hoping to win and force a winner-takes-all rubber match on Sunday.
The most closely contested matchup is reserved for last, as the host, Tuba, goes head-to-head with the fifth-seeded La Trinidad 2.
Both teams possess the firepower to make a significant impact in the tournament, which is presented by the office of Cong. Eric Go Yap, the ACT-CIS Party List, the office of Gov. Melchor Diclas, the Media for Sports Development, as well as Mark Media Solutions.com and the Dominican Tropa Pares.
The semifinals are scheduled for November 13 and 14, with the top two squads from the eliminations enjoying “twice to beat” advantages.
However, an upset could potentially shake up the order and deny the top seeds that privilege, as confirmed by commissioner Roderick Osis.
In addition to the tournament, the Benguet All Stars event is slated for November 30 at the Benguet Sports Complex, featuring 15 players from the 14 participating teams.
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