KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue City emerged as the Visayas champions of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup after humbling top seed MJAS Zenith-Talisay City 89-75 in their winner-take-all match Sunday night at the Alcantara Civic Center in Cebu.
Down by seven early in the third period, KCS turned the tables on their heavily-favored opponents by going on an incredible 18-1 run capped by a three-pointer by Shaquille Imperial that gave them a 54-44 lead. Bernie Bregondo sparked the turnaround with six straight points inside.
Al Francis Tamsi, Red Cachuela, and Michole Sorela, and Ping Exciminiano joined the attack, with the latter draining a triple at the third period buzzer to push KCS in front 61-50 heading into the final quarter.
KCS poured it on in the fourth with diminutive guard Gileant Delator, at one point, scoring eight straight to give them an 81-64 lead. Sorela then drilled in a long three-pointer and a baseline jumper to give KCS their biggest lead at 22, 88-66.
The Aquastars could not get anything going, with sixth man Darrell Menina even getting ejected after incurring a flagrant foul on Delator with 5:17 left.
“I told them, ‘Let’s try to make history. Let’s give them forty minutes of hell!’” said KCS coach Mike Reyes.
Talisay City went unbeaten in the 10-game elimination round, which included a pair of wins over Mandaue, where they won by an average of 14.0 points.
Exciminiano, who was named the Finals MVP, led KCS with 15 points, five rebounds, an assist, and three steals. The 32-year-old defensive specialist out of Olongapo City averaged 13.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 steals in the three-game series.
“Sobrang blessed ako, after all na nangyari sa akin, nagka-injury at Achilles injury, nagpapasalamat ako na napunta ako sa ganitong situwasyon,” Exciminiano said.
Sorela and Tamsi added 12 markers apiece, with the former hauling down eight boards, while Delator and Imperial chipped in 10 apiece.
