The balloons were finally dropped as one team emerged as the Champions of the inaugural season of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Visayas Leg. The Mandaue KCS Computer Specialists pulled off a stunning upset after they thrashed the heavily-favored Talisay Aquastars, 89-75, in the deciding game three (3) of their best-of-three Finals series at the Alcantara Gym, Cebu on May 09, 2021.
Ping Exciminiano led Mandaue with another astounding performance after he scattered fifteen (15) points, grabbed five (5) rebounds, dished out one (1) assist, and recorded three (3) steals. With his consistent showing throughout the series, he was adjudged as the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).
"Naniwala lang kami sa sarili namin na kaya namin. Naniwala kami kay coach at kay God na kaya namin," Ping answered when asked what was the strength of the team starting from the eliminations, to surviving a grueling series against the Dumaguete Lapu-Lapu Heroes, until finally beating the Talisay Aquastars squad.
Mandaue was actually trailing by five (5) points at the end of the first half, 39-34. When its seems that the favored Talisay Aquastars were on their way to a championship, Mandaue stepped on the pedal to unleash a furious 18-1 run sparked by Bernie Bregondo's six (6) points inside the paint and capped by Shaquilled Imperial's booming triple that sent Mandaue ahead by 10, 54-44.
Other members of the Mandaue squad including Al Tamsi, Michole Sorela, and Ping Exciminiano also contributed into Mandaue's uprising in the third canto. A buzzer-beating triple from Ping Exciminiano at the end of the third quarter gave Mandaue a comfortable 61-50 lead heading into the final quarter.
Like a well-oiled machine, Mandaue continued their onslaught in the deciding quarter to inch closer to the championship trophy. Gileant Delator put on some show in the early minutes of the fourth canto as he drilled eight (8) consecutive points to stretch Mandaue's lead, 81-64. Not to be outdone, Michole Sorela sank another triple as part of his 12-point production that gave Mandaue its biggest breather of the game, 88-66 going into the home stretch.
The Talisay Aquastars who were the favorites to bring the championship trophy after they swept the elimination rounds with a 10-0 record and earned an outright finals berth, just could not keep up with the offensive attacks by Mandaue. Their leader Paolo Hubalde who towed them to victory in the second game was nowhere to be found as he managed to contribute a measly four (4) points. Only Patrick Cabahug and Jaymar Gimpayan scored in double figures with 21 and 12 markers respectively.
After the final buzzer sounded, it was all celebration for Mandaue as they clinched a historic victory. Coach Mike Reyes of Mandaue credited the team's win to the defense showed by his players.
“I told them, 'let’s try to make history. Let’s give them forty minutes of hell!'” said Reyes.
"Sobrang blessed ako kasi after all ng mga nangyari sa akin in the past few years na nagka achiles injury ako. Then I worked hard para makabalik ako sa paglalaro ng basketball. And thank God na kinuha ako ni coach Mike Reyes. And sobrang thankful ako kay god kasi napunta ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. Firt time magchampion sa career ko," exclaimed Ping Exciminiano.
As the Champions, the Mandaue squad brought home PHP 500,000.00 on top of the championship trophy while Talisay bagged PHP 100,000.00 courtesy of sponsor Chooks-to-Go. Mandaue will face the champion of the Mindanao leg which is tentatively set on May 25, 2021 to determine the grand champion.
Box scores
KCS-Mandaue 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.
MJAS-Talisay 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.