Chris Bitoon of Basilan drives to the basket while being closely guarded by Mandaue’s Joseph Nalos in Game One of their best-of-five finals series in the VisMin Super Cup. | VisMin Super Cup Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines– The Jumbo Plastic-Basilan Peace Riders manhandled the Visayas leg champions, KCS Computer Specialists-Mandaue City, 94-67, to take Game One of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup best-of-five Grand Finals, Wednesday at the Pagadian City Gymnasium in Zamboanga del Sur.
The Computer Specialists converted the first basket of the game which also proved to be their first and last time to take the upperhand as the Peace Riders would grab a, 44-31 advantage at halftime.
“Noong first half, we couldn’t pull away kasi on some plays disorganized kami sa executions. Sinabihan ko lang sila na just follow the pattern sa executions at mas tigasan pa ang depensa,” said Basilan head coach Jerson Cabiltes.
But Basilan showed their might once more after dropping a, 16-3 bomb capped by Michael Mabulac’s deuce in the paint, to erect a 26-point lead with 6:15 left in the third period, 60-34.
Jong Baloria’s freebie put the newly-crowned Mindanao kings on top by 35, their biggest of the game, 86-50 with 5:43 to go in the match.
Mindanao Leg Finals MVP Chris Bitoon had 19 points, three assists, and two steals.
Baloria followed suit with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Michael Mabulac punched in 11 points and six rebounds.
Michael Juico, Philip Manalang, and Bobby Balucanag tallied 10 points apiece.
Steve Castro was the lone bright spot for KCS with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, to go with five rebounds and two assists.
New addition Miguel Gastador added 11 points.
Basilan guns for a 2-0 lead tomorrow at 6 p..m, but a depleted Mandaue team hopes to tie the count and make for an exciting grand finals series.
The Scores:
Basilan 94 – Bitoon 19, Baloria 13, Mabulac 11, Balucanag 10, Manalang 10, Juico 10, Bringas 6, Hallare 6, Gabo 5, Collado 2, Taganas 2, Uyloan 0, Saliddin 0, Tan 0, Siruma 0.
Mandaue 67 – Castro 18, Gastador 11, Soliva 6, Sorela 6, Cachuela 6, Nalos 5, Bregondo 5, Roncal 3, Bautista 3, Delator 2, Imperial 2, Octobre 0, Mercader 0.
Quarterscores: 24-11, 44-31, 75-46, 94-76. /rcg