The Mandaue City Ballers (top) and the Talisay City Aquastars present their respective mock checks during the 2019 Gov’s Cup basketball tournament finals. | CDN File Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Long before the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Cup was conceptualized, Talisay City and Mandaue City have already established their torrid rivalry in the local basketball scene.
Both cities already clashed in the finals of the biggest basketball tournament in Cebu, the Governor’s Cup in 2019. The event featured young amateur Cebuano cagers and was organized by the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC).
The Talisay City Aquastars beat the Mandaue City Ballers, 74-69, in the deciding Game 3 of the Gov’s Cup. They are also the defending champion of the tournament having captured the maiden title in 2018.
The Aquastars also etched a historic feat in the tournament by winning the crown unbeaten with a 14-0, win-loss slate.
Before they reached the Govs’ Cup final in 2019, the Mandaue City Ballers were eliminated in the North Division’s playoffs by the Consolacion Sarok Weavers the year before.
Tomorrow, May 7, the two cities renew their heated basketball rivalry as the KCS Computer Specialists-Mandaue City and the MJAS Zenith Talisay City Aquastars start their best-of-3 championship series of the VisMin Super Cup at the Alcantara Civic Center in Alcantara town.
Both cities have also produced prominent basketball talents.
Talisay City which holds the annual Gullas Cup Inter-town/City Basketball Tournament has TNT Tropang Giga’s Roger Ray Pogoy.
Mandaue City, meanwhile, has former PBA mainstay and former UV Green Lancers coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug, former Powerade Tigers shooting guard Dale Singson, and JR Quiñahan of the NLEX Road Warriors.
The Pilipinas VisMin Cup has surely reignited the Cebuanos’ passion for basketball.
And Talisay City and Mandaue City are just as happy to continue their celebrated rivalry this time in the professional arena. /rcg