MINDANAO Leg champion Jumbo-Plastic Basilan aims to stretch its unbeaten run when the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Southern Finals kicks off on Wednesday.
Standing before the Peace Riders’ way though is Visayas titlist KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue.
The game starts at 6 p.m. at the Pagadian City Gymnasium in Zamboanga del Sur.
Basilan clinched the Mindanao championship at the expense of Petra Cement-Roxas, 89-70. Less than 48 hours after that, they are in for another war.
“Our celebration as Mindanao champions is over,” Peace Riders head coach Jerson Cabiltes said. “We practiced immediately to prepare for KCS.”
Despite the dominant showing in its leg, Basilan will still be cautious when it collides with Mandaue.
“We know that KCS is a tough team. We celebrated the title but the fight is not over yet,” Peace Riders captain Jonathan Uyloan. “We regrouped and we’re prepared for another war again.”
It’s “been there, done that,” though for KCS.
Mandaue battled the once-mighty MJAS Zenith Talisay City, which swept the elimination round and gained an outright berth to the title round—just like KCS—in the Visayas Finals.
Mandaue then stunned the Aquastars in three games, to walk away as the Visayas kings.
However, KCS took a major blow when its top guns Gryann Mendoza, Ping Exciminiano and Al Tamsi were called up by teams in Manila.
Stepping in were Miguel Gastador and, now, playing assistant coach Jax Bautista.
But nothing’s going to change Mandaue’s approach to the game, even with its best players unable to join them in the Southern Finals.
“We’re going to play the KCS way,” Head Coach Mike Reyes said.