PAGADIAN. – Jumbo Plastic-Basilan reigned supreme in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Leg.
The Peace Riders clinched the title as Mindanao’s best after blowing past Petra Cement-Roxas89-70to complete a tournament sweepMonday at the Pagadian City Gymnasium here.
Basilan, which swept all 10 games in the leg, now sets its sight on the Southern Finals, with Visayas kings KCS-Mandaue waiting in a the best-of-five showdown starting Wednesday.
Aside from the honor of being Mindanao champions, the Peace Riders will also bring home P500,000 courtesy of Chooks-to-Go. The Vanguards will home with P100,000.
“Talagang napakasarap nitong championship na ito kasi nandito ka lang sa liga during a pandemic, you’re one of the fortunate na,” said Basilan coach Jerson Cabiltes.
The Vanguards went basket-per-basket with the Peace Riders in the first half, even grabbing the advantage at halftime34-32.
“I was very upset during halftime. I scolded all of them. I am very glad that they responded very well,” said Cabiltes.
But the Vanguards failed to survive Basilan’s third quarter attack.
The Peace Riders, who hold the league’s record for most points, unleashed their scoring prowess, going for 35 in the third period while limiting the Vanguards to just 19 to build a 14-point lead heading into the fourth67-53.
Basilan followed it up with 13 unanswered points to open the payoff period and establish an insurmountable 27-point spread at the 5:03 mark80-53.
Chris Bitoon was hailed as the Finals MVP with averages of 15.0 points, 6.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 rebounds per game.
“Sobrang saya na mai-represent ‘yung province ko tapos nag-Finals MVP pa ako,” said Bitoon, whose parents hail from Basilan.
Season MVP Hesed Gabo led Basilan with 13 points, three assists, and two rebounds.
Michael Juico backstopped him with 12 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
The newly-minted Finals MVP dropped 10 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and three steals.
Roxas starting center Lester Reyes hit the showers early at the 3:57 mark of the second period after a hit on Basilan’s Hesed Gabo, which the officials deemed as a flagrant foul penalty 2.
And that affected the Vanguards’ paint defense greatly.
Before the ejection of Reyes, the Peace Riders were limited to just 16 points in the paint.
After he was gone, Basilan just pounded the paint, finishing with 48.
