KCS-Mandaue enters final stagein pursuit of Super Cup history

CEBU, Philippines —  The KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue City enters the ultimate stage in their quest to make history as they battle the Jumbo Plasic-Basilan Peace Riders in the Southern Finals of the inaugural Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup season starting today.

Mandaue and Basilan will kick off their best-of-five championship series at 7:00 tonight at the Pagadian City gymnasium in Zamboanga del Sur.

The Computer Specialists of team owner Ricky Verdida and coach Mike Reyes reached the grand finals after stunning the heavily favored MJAS Zenith-Talisay City Aquastars to clinch the Visayas leg title while the Peace Riders advanced after sweeping the Petra Cement-Roxas Vanguards to emerge as the Mindanao champions.

Things though are completely different now for the Computer Specialists as they will play withou their top gunners in Visayag leg MVP Ping Exciminiano, Mythical 5 member Gyrann Mendoza, and spunky guard Al Francis Tamsi who are now with their mother teams in the PBA.

Given the circumstance, Reyes is left with no choice than to parade a lineup composed of former Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) stars with hopes of pulling off another huge upset.

The odds may be against them but Reyes is confident that his chargers will be able top put up one big fight against the fancied Basilan side.

“We will have to value every possession and our defense has to limit their output,” said Reyes, who steered the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras to their first CESAFI crown in six years back in 2019.

“All we are after is to be able to compete, then baka magka-chance sa endgame,” added the soft-spoken mentor.

In their pursuit of Super Cup glory, Reyes will pin his hopes on 2019 CESAFI MVP Shaq Imperial, Joseph Nalos, Dyll Roncal, Steve Castro, Bernie Bregondo, and Red Cachuela from SWU-Phinma, former CESAFI Slam Dunk champion Miguel Gastador from the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, and Rhaffy Octobre, Monic Soliva, Phil Mercader, and Gileant Delator of the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.

They have to contend against a strong Basilan force bannered by team captain Jonathan Uyloan, Mindanao leg Season MVP Hesed Gabo, Finals MVP Chris Bitoon, Michael Juico, Jong Baloria, and Jay-R Taganas among others.