Pagadian’s Noel Cortez slips past the defense of Joel Sollano of Kapatagan during their first encounter last July 17. | VisMin Cup Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Pagadian Explorers will defend their homecourt on Thursday, July 29, 2021, as they start the playoffs of the Mindanao leg of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup at the Pagadian gymnasium in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
The Explorers, who finished the elimination round at third place in the standings, will have a twice-to-beat advantage as they face the eighth-seeded Kapatagan Buffalo Braves in a game scheduled at 4 p.m.
Explorers head coach Harold Sta. Cruz expects his team to go all out, especially that local basketball fans are cheering for them through an LED screen setup outside the gymnasium.
“Playoffs na ito. Kahit na may twice-to-beat advantage kami hindi namin iisipin ‘yun kasi ang Kapatagan anytime puwedeng pumutok yan kaya dodoblehin namin ang effort namin,” said Sta. Cruz.
“Grabe ka-motivated ‘yung mga bata dahil sa suporta ng mga Pagadianon kaya itong mga players naglalaro talaga para sa kanila. Ibinubuhos nila ang lahat para sa Pagadian City,” the youthful tactician continued.
The Explorers already beat the Buffalo Braves, 95-67, in their elimination round encounter last July 17.
On the other hand, an all-Zamboanga affair is featured in the other playoff duel as fifth seed JPS Zamboanga City protects their twice-to-beat advantage against the sixth seed ALZA Alayon Zamboanga del Sur at 6 p.m.
In their first meeting, JPS outlasted ALZA Alayon in the elimination round, 82-79.
/bmjo