By Adrian Stewart Co
KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue City ruled the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Visayas leg after an 89-75 beating of MJAS Zenith-Talisay City AquasStars in do-or-die Game 3 on Sunday at the Alcantara Civic Center in Cebu.
Chris Exciminiano was adjudged as the Finals MVP after leading the way for Mandaue City in the title-clinching victory with 15 points, five rebounds, an assist, and three steals.
“Sobrang blessed ako, after all na nangyari sa akin, nagka-injury at Achilles injury, nagpapasalamat ako na napunta ako sa ganitong sitwasyon,” said Exciminiano, who was unable to play in the PBA for a year due to an offseason injury.
Down by seven points early in the third quarter, Mandaue City unloaded an 18-1 scoring blast capped by a three-point conversion by Shaquille Imperial to surge his team ahead at 54-44.
Bernie Bregondo answered for Talisay City with six straight points inside to keep the match close but Mandaue City turned to Exciminiano, Al Francis Tamsi, Red Cachuela, and Michole Sorela to widen the lead to 61-50 heading to the final canto.
Mandaue City poured it on in the fourth with Gileant Delator scoring eight straight points and Sorela converting five consecutive points for its biggest lead of the match at 88-66 late in the match.
Sorela and Tamsi finished with 12 markers apiece with the former hauling down eight rebounds while Delator and Imperial also hit double-figures with 10 markers apiece for Mandaue City.
“I told them, ‘let’s try to make history. Let’s give them 40 minutes of hell!’” said Mandaue City head coach Mike Reyes. “I got to win the hearts of the players. That‘s why they played so hard because I think I was able to capture it.”
Mandaue City will represent Visayas in the Grand Finals of the league this August in Tubod, Lanao Del Norte while also pocketing P500,000 courtesy of Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascariñas. Talisay City was given P100,000 for its runner up finish.
Patrick Cabahug finished with 21 points, while Season MVP Jaymar Gimpayan added 12 markers for Talisay City, which were heavily favored to win it all after entering the championship round with an unbeaten 10-0 record.
BOX SCORE:
MANDAUE CITY 89 – Exciminiano 15, Tamsi 12, Sorela 12, Imperial 10, Delator 10, Bregondo 8, Mendoza 8, Roncal 4, Soliva 4, Cachuela 2, Bonganciso 2, Octobre 2, Nalos 0, Castro 0.
TALISAY CITY 75 – Cabahug 21, Gimpayan 12, Menina 9, Villafranca 8, Jamon 7, Mojica 6, Hubalde 4, Acuna 3, Santos 2, Eguilos 2, Casajeros 1, Mabigat 0, Dela Cerna 0.
Quarterscores: 16-19, 34-39, 61-50, 89-75./ASC, WDJ