BASILAN is a win away from making a historic finish on Friday the 13th in the first ever Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup 2021 season.
Despite the resistance throughout Game 2 Southern Finals, it looks like Mandaue stay clueless and looking for an answer in back-to-back games how to stop the Peace Riders. It didn’t happen, however.
No thanks to former pro Jonathan Uyloan, Jay Colorado and big man Michael Mabulac as Jumbo Plastic-Basilan held off KCS-Mandaue, 96-91, for a 2-0 series advantage at the Pagadian City Gymnasium in Zamboanga del Sur.
After trailing by 65-75 at the start of the payoff quarter, Mandaue came within 81-83 in the last 5:14 mark behind Joseph Nalos’ basket — but the run didn’t last long.
Mabulac, Collado and Hesed Gabo finally took charge in crunch time, leading to Basilan’s 8-0 spurt that stretched back its advantage to 91-81 with 2:31 left to go.
Then after the final buzzer sounded, the Peace Riders are now focusing on a Game 3 sweep on Friday the 13th at 6 p.m. where they will also be gunning for an undefeated 13-game winning streak.
“It was an ugly win, but a win is a win. KCS played with character, and they showed so much perseverance today,” Basilan head coach Jerson Cabiltes said, who drew 19 points, including five triples, and four steals from former Rain or Shine player Uyloan.
Collado added 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Mabulac had a huge double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds. Jong Baloria also chipped in 11 points and six rebounds.
Rhaffy Octobre bounced back from a scoreless Game One, scoring 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, alongside six rebounds, and four assists for Mandaue.
Gileant Delator, Shaq Imperial, and Phil Mercader also contributed 12 points apiece.