Talisay, Mandaue start strong in Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup

CEBU: The MJAS Zenith-Talisay City Aquastars and the KCS-Mandaue City Computer Specialists pulled down lopsided wins in the opening day of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Visayas leg at the Alcantara Civic Center in Alcantara town on Friday night.

Considered among the teams to beat, the Aquastars and the Computer Specialists lived up to its billing in the historic night that saw the country’s first Cebu-based professional league take off in the Queen City of the South under a “bubble” setup.

Prolific forward Patrick Jan Cabahug showed no signs of rust, firing on all cylinders for a game-high 22 markers from 9-of-16 shooting from the field and leading the Aquastars to a blowout 104-66 win over the hapless Tubigon Bohol Mariners in the opening game.

Cabahug received necessary support from his teammates. Jaymo Eguilos showed off his all-around prowess with nine points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal while Jaymar Gimpayan flirted with a double-double of 10 points and nine boards. Jan Jamon chipped in with 14 points, and Egie Mojica had 11.

Tubigon was led by Pari Llagas, who had 19 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.

In the second game, Mandaue City used a solid fourth quarter blitz to crush the Siquijor Mystics, 66-46. The Computer Specialists limited the Mystics to five points in the final canto to come away with a 20-point victory.

Grayann Mendoza scored 17 points while Al Francis Tamsi handed 12 points.

Mandaue almost blew a 20-point advantage as Siquijor came close, 42-37, late in the third quarter. However, Mandaue responded with a back-breaking run in the fourth quarter to secure the win in a convincing fashion.

Miguel Castellano was the lone bright spot for Siquijor with 14 points, eight boards and two dimes.

Seven teams are playing in the Visayas leg of the “bubble” play that will last at least 25 days, following the strict health protocols mandated by the national government through the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Regional Task Force and the Department of Health.