LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Assembly of God (AOG) overhauled a late fourth quarter nine point Caliking Atok Youth Group lead to corral the Inter-religious Bracket Championship of the fifth season of the Laity Cup last August 10, 2017 at the San Jose Gym, here.
AOG opened the game with a fury, had to weather the Kings third quarter rally and came up with big clutch hits in the stretch to outlast the Kings, 95-93.
The quickly move up 13-1, eventually settling with a 39-21 first quarter lead behind the 12 points of Kenwal Galian and the 8 of Noel Haight.
The Kings, tightened the defense in the second and limited AOG to just 12 while scoring 18 to close the gap at halftime. Glendon Crystal scored six straight for the Kings during this run.
The same trend continued in the third. Kings again limited AOG to just 14 while dropping 27 to take a one point lead going to the fourth.
Jerick Pakias and Patrick Shontogan, the two teams’ primary offensive weapons took each other on defense during the stretch. Pakias gained ground as he fired 11 in during the third while blanking Shontogan to just a free for the entire second and third quarters.
A 25-19 scoring edge during the first six minutes of the game then gave Caliking the a seven point lead, 91-84 and a good shot at finishing AOG. Pakias, however, collect two quick fouls and had to depart.
AOG then went to their main guy and Shontogan took advantage of the disqualification of Pakias by canned three straight freebies against a basket by Jun Domingo to inch closer 88-93.
Shontogan then buried a three as he was pushed and completed the four point play to make it 92-93 before Haight sank a twinner to give AOG back the lead.
The Kings missed to buy a basket by missing two seemingly easy shots and committing two turnovers as time expired on their rally. A split from the line by Gilmore Fianza secured the win.
Meanwhile, Edenbhert Tong and Bernie Pangisban came back strong after fouling out during the crucial stretch run of their semis game to lead the La Trinidad Benguet International Baptist Church (LTBIBC) in a rout of the Wesleyan Blue Hawks for the bronze.
Tong and Pangisban vented their ire to the Blue Hawks by scoring 30 points each, that included a triple, for the only team from season one that is still active and to make sure LTBIBC gets a top three finish.
Tong and Pangisban quickly went to work at the very start of the game to set the rout. Tong inked seven points while Pangisban had six to open an eight point first quarter lead.
Scattered contributions from Tong, Pangisban, Samuel Abellera and Dwight Zambrano pushed the lead by halftime to 13.
LTBIBC then pushed the accelerator to shot the Blue Hawks down. Tong knocked in 14 points while Pangisban chipped in six as LTBIBC went on an offensive rampage, pouring in 35 big points to increased the lead to 15.
Pangisban never let Wesleyan come any closer with his 11 fourth quarter outburst.
LTBIBC 92: Edenbhert Tong 30, Bernie Pangisban 30, Samuel Abellera 16, Patrick Ng 8, Jan Dwight Zambrano 7, Mark Nam 1, Fitzgerald Tong, Funk Caoili.
Wesleyan 74: Clifton Agasen 19, Glen Natividad 18, Mark Galian 17, Derick Babsa-ay 8, Ryan Mabalo 4, Melvin DeTorres 4, Rosendo Ligwaten 4, Abner Alingbas.
Quarterscores: 22-14, 45-32, 70-55, 92-74
3pt shots made: E. Tong 1, B. Pangisban 1, Agasen 1, Galian 1.
Assembly of God 95: Kenwal Kyle Galian 22, Noel Haight 17, Patrick Shontogan 17, Gilmore Fianza 17, Jeric Tercero 8, Terence Caput 5, Mariano Dakay 4, Manuel Kimpay 2, Winston Baucas 2, Bryan Kiwas 1, Ian Haight, Monroe Pablo, Delano Pangos.
Caliking Atok Youth Group 93: Jerick Pakias 23, Drexel Pangisban 16, Glendon Crystal 15, Clyde Borromeo 13, Jeff Pakias 6, Paul Mayos 6, Jun Domingo 6, Patrick Depolio 5, Dione Pakias, Jr. 3, Jr Domingo.
Quarterscores: 39-21, 51-39, 65-66, 95-93.
3pt shots made: Galian 3, Fianza 3, Shontogan 2, Jeff Pakias 2, Jerick Pakias 1, Depolio 1, D. Pangisban 1
By: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS
