AFTER months of frustration, Basilan vented its ire on ALZA Alayon Zamboanga del Sur, 82-48, to open the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Leg on Wednesday at the Provincial Gymnasium in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
It was Basilan’s first game since its Game Two win in the 2020-21 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Division Finals in March 20, 2020.
Basilan changed its monicker from Steel to the Peace Riders for the VisMin Super Cup.
Leading by just eight points heading into the second frame, 15-7, the Peace Riders’ offense all of a sudden caught fire while still maintaining their tough defense, outscoring ALZA Alayon 25-7, to enter halftime with a huge 40-14 margin.
“After the first quarter, I told the players not to rush things but to focus,” Peace Riders head coach Jerson Cabiltes said.
The lead would eventually balloon to as high as 42, 78-36, on Darwin Lunor’s layup off a post move at the 4:23 mark of the payoff period.
Michael Mabulac stuffed the stat sheet for Basilan with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. He also registered a game-best plus-32 rating.
Hesed Gabo was the spark off the bench for Basilan with 14 points and seven rebounds while Chris Bitoon and Michael Juico chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Dan Sara was the lone Zamboanga Del Sur cager to tally double digits in points with 17.