KCS-Mandaue makes history in Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup

CEBU, Philippines — The KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue City turned to a massive third-quarter rally, then followed it up with a dazzling endgame show to complete their huge upset of MJAS Zenith-Talisay City Aquastars via a lopsided 89-75 decision in the deciding match of the best-of-three Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup-Visayas leg finals last night at the Alcantara Civic Center in Alcantara town southwest of Cebu.

“I told them, ‘let’s try to make history. Let’s give them forty minutes of hell!’” said KCS head coach Mike Reyes.

Ping Exciminiano led five players in double figures with 15 points laced with five rebounds, three steals and an assist as KCS-Mandaue finished the series, two games to one, to etch their name in stone as the first ever Visayas champions of the country’s first professional basketball league based in southern provinces.

“Sobrang blessed ako, after all na nangyari sa akin, nagka-injury at Achilles injury, nagpapasalamat ako na napunta ako sa ganitong situwasyon,” said Exciminiano, who was hailed as the Finals MVP.

Aside from making history and earning a ticket to the Vismin Super Cup Grand Finals this August, KCS-Mandaue also pocketed a whopping P500,000 cash prize courtesy of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas owner Ronald Mascarin~as.

“Despite the controversy the league faced in its early stages, Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup was able to redeem itself by enforcing stricter rules to combat illegal activities while raising the quality of the games. The players, especially those from MJAS-Talisay and KCS-Mandaue, also played inspired basketball for one whole month inside a bubble just to entertain and inspire us,” said Mascarin~as in a statement.”Their sacrifices should be rewarded that is why we added an extra spice for the finalists.”

Al Francis Tamsi and Michole Solera each scored 12 while combo guard Shaq Imperial and Gileant dished out 10 markers apiece for KCS-Mandaue, which trailed by seven before turning the table tables on their heavily favored rivals with a stunning second-half comeback.

Down  36-43, the wards of coach Mike Reyes suddenly turned red-hot and uncorked a spectacular 18-1 rally to turn the tide of the match in their favor, 54-44, on a trey by Imperial. Overall in the third period., KCS-Mandaue clobbered MJAS-Talisay, 27-11, to set up the stage for a one-sided outcome.

After padding their lead to 63-50, the Computer Specialists were not yet done from there as Sorela and Gryann Mendoza fired two consecutive tomahawks from beyond the arc in a 10-4 blitz that did not only give them an imposing 73-56 lead under seven minutes of play but also left the Aquastars drained and staggering the rest of the way.

KCS-Mandaue’s biggest advantage though stood at 22 points, 88-66, on two straights 3-point bombs by Sorela with only 1:41 left to play.

Patrick Cabahug topscored for MJAS-Talisay with 21 points and three rebounds. Season MVP Jaymar Gimpayan was the only other twin-digit scorer with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two assists for the Aquastars, who took home P100,000 for their first runner-up finish.

MJAS-Zenith completed a 10-game sweep in the double round elimination only to fall prey at the hands of the hungrier and more determined KSC-Mandaue squad.