ALCANTARA, Cebu—KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue City put on a shooting display in a 82-71 victory over a nine-man Tabogon squad in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, Wednesday at the Civic Center here.

The win was KCS’s second in a row–and seventh in nine games–as they cruised towards the semifinal round with the second seed already in its back pocket.

Down 23-25 early in the second period, KCS quickly went on a three-point shooting spree, making six in a row in a scorching 26-2 scoring tear that vaulted them in front, 49-29, at halftime.

Steve Castro came off the bench and gave Mandaue a lift with two triples while Gryann Mendoza, Gileant Delator, and Phil Mercader accounted for four in that game-changing rally.

“It’s about time that Steve Castro gets his breakout game kay since the start sa league, siya ang pinaka consistent and giving quality minutes for the team,” said KCS assistant coach Jabby Bautista.

In all, KCS made 10 three-pointers in the first half.

Earlier in the day, unheralded Jumike Casera sank a difficult short jumper with 0.3 of a second left to push Tubigon Bohol past Dumaguete, 62-61.

Down one with just nine seconds remaining in the close game, Tubigon Bohol gave the ball to their moneyman, Joseph Marquez, for an isolation play on the left-wing. The left-handed wingman, though, got blocked by Dumaguete big man Jovannie Aguilar.

Fortunately, the 6-foot Casera found himself at the right place at the right time as he grabbed the offensive rebound and went right up for a short jumper that found nothing but the bottom of the net with just three ticks of a second remaining.

The Warriors had one last shot but Mannie Gabas’ jumper went awry as time expired, to give Bohol just their second win in nine matches to rise to solo fifth in the standings.

Casera, a homegrown player, finished with seven points and seven boards.

“I designed the play for Marquez to drive the lane and kung ano man ang result, we were going to live it,” shared Bohol’s head coach, Gino Enriquez. “Marquez drove it and walang tawag ang mga referee. Fortunately, Casera was there.

“A win is a win. We’ll take it.”

The Scores:

First game

Tubigon Bohol (62)—Llagas 21, Marquez 18, Casera 7, Musngi 5, Dadjilul 5, Cabizares 4, Leonida 2, Ibarra 0, Tangunan, Tilos 0, Apolonias 0.

Dumaguete (61)—Mantilla 17, Doligon 15, Regalado 12, Gabas 8, Aguilar 5, Tomilloso 2, Roy 2, Velasquez 0, Gonzalgo 0, Porlares 0.

Quarterscores: 22-13, 34-39, 53-50, 62-61.

Second game

KCS-Mandaue (82)—Mendoza 19, Castro 16, Delator 11, Soliva 10, Bongaciso 8, Solera 7, Mercader 5, Imperial 3, Roncal 2, Exciminiano 1, Nalos 0, Cachuela 0

Tabogon (71)—Bringas 19, Diaz 12, Bersabal 12, Orquina 8, Lacastesantos 6, Caballero 6, Rodriguez 4, Sombero 2, Vitug 2

Quarterscores: 21-18, 49-29, 65-45, 82-71.

AUTHOR PROFILE

People's Journal