FORMER Cagayan de Oro junior league MVP Ronald Rey “Boning” Biongcog reinforced Team Butron in the ongoing 3rd President’s Cup Green CdeO Eagles basketball with stinging effect.
Playing for the first time, Biongcog dished out an all-around performance top billed by his 23 points that victimized no less than Team Mugot considered as the strongest contender in the Eagles hoopfest.
Biongcog’s brilliancy laced with 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals carried Team Butron to a pulsating 74-72 win over Team Mugot on Friday night’s playoff round at the Nazareth gym, Cagayan de Oro City.
Thus, Biongcog and company join the No. 1 seed Team Pagulong in the big 4 round alongside Team Romuls, 86-79 over Team Doc Neri, as Team Aspirants of El Kap Frias forced a deciding Game 2 after defeating the twice-to-beaten Team Doc Somido, 83-76.
“Nibalik ang dula ni Boning. Nakaundang man siya sa basketball for fear nga naa siya’y problema sa heart. But after nakita sa doctor nga mata ang diperensya naghinam-hinam gayod siya’g balik og dula,” said Biongcog’s cousin Norman Lao while watching the do-it-all guard’s debut in the exciting 3rd President’s Cup.
Biongcog got a lot of help from Balong Mabalot, who sizzled for 14, as Gomez, Timkang, Butron, Buot and Uy added a combined 27.
Bernard Limocon had the chance to deny Team Butron of a semis chance, but he missed an uncontested lay-up in the dying seconds of the play.
“Daug na mi kon na-convert to nga lay-up,” said Anton Pabillore, whose backcourt tandem with Cyrus Diango only produced nine markers altogether.
The league’s leading scorer Jan Babiera and Gitagum Mayor Emmanuel Mugot led Team 6 with 17 and 16 points each as Limocon and Macapayag added 12 apiece.
Rural Transit manager Jessie Lentorio turned as the “man of the hour” for Team Romuls as he erupted for 33 points to eliminate Team Doc Neri which missed the services of strongman Jay Buot.
Bonbon Macaliag came up with 27 for Team Romuls that withstood the equally-productive night of Alcover who delivered 37 points for Team Doc Neri’s vain effort.
Team Aspirants live for another day as Sabiono and Solidum scattered 18 and 16 points, respectively, to beat Team Doc Somido with Daisog, Naguita and Gamayon helping out with 10 points each.
At least four Doc Somido players -Wyndel Relevo (21), Wissly Daculiat (20), Loloy Gelogo (18), Ariel Sicad (12) - finished in twin-digit numbers as they look forward to a no-tomorrow Game 2 contest on Friday at the same venue.