By Raul Estioko
UB Intern
LAGAWE, Ifugao – John Carlo Siobal fired 24 points including five triples to lead Team Baguio keeping its hope alive for a gold medal finish.
This is in the ongoing basketball competitions in the 2010 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (Caraa) here.
Baguio humbled Apayao, 100–80 avoiding an early exit after a sorry one point loss against Benguet in their opener.
Despite having an early foul trouble, Siobal made his mark in the three point arc and helped the team fashion out a lopsided victory after a close first half action.
“I told my boys to focus on the game and play great defense. We must score on our fast breaks and make our three-point shooting more accurate to win this game,” coach Dionisio Terceno Sr. said.
The Baguio squad then cruised to an easy victory against home team Ifugao in Monday’s action, 120–104 with Siobal firing a game high 30 points including three triples.
“We are not supposed to be affected by what happened in our first game, instead we should always remember we are the defending champions,” Terceno told his wards.
Baguio earlier felt the pressure cooker as Apayao kept the ballgame close trailing only by two, 46–44 at the close of the first half.
But from then on, the Siobal-inspired team rallied in the third period to tear the game wide open at the close of the third quarter, 74-62, and they never looked back.