Kabayan sent a strong message in week two of the Cong. Eric Go Yap Congressional Cup Benguet Basketball League, defeating Kapangan 76-69 at the Benguet Sports Complex.
After losing to defending champion La Trinidad 65-66 on opening day, October 12, Kabayan rebounded by handing Kapangan its first defeat in what could be seen as revenge for last year’s last-minute collapse and loss.
Arvin Gamboa and sharpshooter Kyle Naisod led the team with 22 and 18 points, respectively. Naisod’s prediction earlier in the day—“We will win”—seemed to signal Kabayan’s determination this year. “We’ve been working out together, and we have a game plan that will work,” said Naisod, a former Saint Louis University player now with the National Bureau of Investigation in Cordillera.
Itogon and La Trinidad also claimed their third wins, while Bokod is close behind. Kabayan scored its first victory, and a Tuba player claimed his second “Player of the Game” award, despite Typhoon Kristine forcing the cancellation of games in Kapangan Thursday night.
La Trinidad welcomed back Will Kean Lee, who led the defending champions to an 88-57 win over Buguias. After concluding his Maharlika Professional Basketball League season, Lee debuted in the Congressional Cup, delivering a double-double with 28 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals last Saturday.
Earlier, Lenard Cabanes put on a 19-6-1-3 performance (points-rebounds-assists-steals) to lead Itogon in a dominant 112-66 win over Kibungan. This 46-point margin is the tournament’s largest so far, with the games backed by Rep. Yap, the ACT-CIS Partylist, the office of Gov. Melchor Diclas, and Media for Sports Development.
Bokod claimed its second victory, with Rey Bilibli contributing a 22-7-7-5 game to lead them past Mankayan 81-58. The former University of Baguio guard’s standout performance earned him top individual honors for the day.
Jervie Calivo, meanwhile, scored nine of his 14 points in the third quarter to extend Tuba’s lead over Tublay, securing a 73-57 win. On Tuesday, Calivo added 10 points as Tuba edged Kapangan 58-53, making him the first player to win back-to-back individual honors in the league.
In Sablan, Khurt Ciano’s nine points led Sablan to a narrow 50-48 victory over Tublay, with the game marking the lowest combined score in the league so far. The 50 points is also the lowest winning score, while 48 is the lowest losing score.
On Wednesday night, Commissioner Roderick Osis announced the cancellation of games scheduled in Kapangan due to Typhoon Kristine. “With tropical cyclone signal number 3 hoisted over Benguet and other parts of North Luzon, the scheduled game(s) tomorrow, October 24, in the Municipality of Kapangan… will be canceled and rescheduled to a later date,” Osis wrote, adding that “the safety of all participants and attendees is our top priority.”
In other volleyball action, Bokod will aim for its second win against Buguias, Atok will face Mankayan, and Sablan, a favorite, will take on La Trinidad in what promises to be a major match between two undefeated teams in the Benguet Women’s Volleyball League.
In a message posted to the Congressional Cup group chat, Osis confirmed, “Good morning to all. There will be no basketball games tomorrow (October 26), while the volleyball games scheduled this Sunday will push through.”
