Atok scored the biggest upset to date in the ongoing Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup with a win against one of the tournament favorite Tuba during the weekend.
Picking up from where they left in the opening canto, Atok started with a 10-2 run in the first three minutes of play for a 53-45 lead in the third period.
Atok coach Jay Pagadora said prayer and trust paid off after beating one of the most fancied teams to make a deep run in the post season Kurt Tamiray led Atok with 27 points on top of five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
But Atok’s magical run against Tuba after La Trinidad 2 sent them crashing back to reality with a 116-78 loss, with Tamiray getting ejected after committing two unsportsmanlike fouls.
Aaron Nang-is led Trinidad 2 with 19 points for his third best player of the game honor.
Tuba, meanwhile, bounced back Sunday right at their home turf with a convincing victory against Mankayan, 115-84.
John Cedric Pugong almost made it a double-double with 16 points and nine boards. He added three assists and steals.
But Mankayan survived a fighting Bakun and won, 79-69, after four straight defeats during their home game on Tuesday.
Jonathan Peralta led Mankayan with 22 points, while Lenz Antolino and Felix Balais, Jr. added 10 each for the team’s second win in six outings in the event also supported by the Office of Gov. Melchor Diclas and Hypro energy drink.
Bokod, meanwhile, scored back-to-back victories during the weekend for their eight wins in eight outings.
Joshua Pascua led four other Bokod players in double digit with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals as well as a single block.
On Saturday, Bokod also cruised to a 95-81 win against La Trinidad 2.
Darwin Fernandez had 18 markers while John Ric Buenaventura added 22 while his brother June Rey chipped in 15 aside from hauling nine boards, dished four dimes, three steals and three blocks.
Two other Bokod players scored 10 or more with Rayell Williams making 14 and Rey Gabino chipped in 10.
Aaron Nang-is led Trinidad 2 with 15, while Lloyd Calma added 11.
In other games, Itogon started slowly but came out a 99-88 winner over a gritty Buguias for its seventh win in the tournament.
Julius Mancio, Padawag, and Jude Quitalbo led Itogon with 19, 18, and 16 points, with the last adding 14 boards for a double-double.
Buguias, however, bounced back in Mankayan on Tuesday to beat Tublay, 81-73.
Kurke Simeon led Buguias with 37 points on top of seven rebounds, three assists and two steals, as Joaquin Daysa added 18 as Buguias improved to 3-3, which is good for seventh spot in the 14-team league.
Sablan, meanwhile, survived Bakun, 84-81, and ended a five game losing streak.
Micheal Panagan, Carvin Jay Velasco and Jeremiah Buslay led Sablan with 10 each.
Kapangan extended its win streak to three for its fourth win in seven outings against Kabayan on Saturday at the Sablan municipal gym, 84-76.
Five players scored in double digits as Kibungan defeated host Sablan to finally win its first, 93-87.
Ryan Contada led Kibungan with 15 points even as Jade Roxas made 13 and the trio of Norman Danglay, Octavio Cuanso, Jr. and Jeffrey Abansi added 10 markers with the last completing a double- double after hauling 13 boards on top of two assists, two steals, and a lone block.
Meanwhile, erstwhile leader La Trinidad 1, after losing to Bokod at home Thursday, vented its ire on a hapless Tublay to win 120-65. – Press release
