The twice-to-beat Pagadian Explorers aim to protect home court when they open the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Leg quarterfinals on Thursday in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur.
Looking to extend the series to an all-or-nothing rubber match is the eighth seed Kapatagan at 4 pm.
Explorers head coach Harold Sta. Cruz expects his wards to go all out, especially with Pagadianons supporting them via social media, and a LED screen right outside the gymnasium, where the games were always streamed live.
In their lone matchup prior to the playoffs last July 17, Pagadian blasted the Buffalo Braves, 95-67.
Meanwhile, two Zamboanga teams will cap the double-header at 6 pm.
Fifth-ranked JPS Zamboanga City, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, will battle ALZA Alayon Zamboanga del Sur with a semifinals ticket at stake.
JPS barely escaped ALZA Alayon in their matchup in the elimination round, 82-79.
Playing the heroes then were trio of guards Rudy Lingganay, Aaron Jeruta, and Fran Yu.
Yu finished with 16 points, five assists, four rebounds, and four steals; Jeruta tallied 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists; while Lingganay had 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Petra Cement-Roxas gets a free pass to the first phase of the semis as seventh place MisOr pulled out of the league due to numerous injuries incurred throughout the tilt.
The Vanguards await the winner of the Pagadian-Kapatagan matchup. On the other hand, second-seeded Clarin will face the victors of the Zamboanga City-Zamboanga del Sur series.