ALCANTARA—The MJAS Zenith-Talisay City Aquastars waxed hot from beyond the arc early and then, finished strong, to manhandle the Dumaguete Warriors, 92-72, in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup on Wednesday night at the Alcantara Civic Center in the town of Alcantara in the southern part of Cebu.
The win was MJAS’ third in a row, giving them the solo lead in the standings.
“The Cebuano Sniper” Patrick Jan Cabahug got the three-point party going early as he sank four triples in the first period alone to power MJAS to a 33-15 lead. He finished the game with six three-point makes and ended up with 24 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Dean Paulo Hubalde masterfully orchestrated the Aquastars en route to an 11-point, seven-rebound, nine-assist night. Tristan Albina, the former two-time CESAFI three-point champion, added 11 markers highlighted by three triples.
The Warriors made their way back into the ballgame to trail by just six, 45-51, at the halfway mark of the third but Hubalde, Egie Boy Mojica, Cabahug and Allan Santos steadied the Aquastars with their heady plays to raise their lead to 22, 71-49, heading to the last period.
Jerick Nacpil and Mark Doligon led Dumaguete with 13 points each. However, the Warriors dropped to 0-3 in the tournament.
THE SCORES
MJAS-Talisay (92)—Cabahug 24, Hubalde 11, Albina 11, Santos 9, Eguilos 9, Jamon 7, Ugsang 5, Mojica 5, Gimpayan 4, Mabigat 2, Alvarez 2, Cuyos 2, Villafranca 1
Dumaguete (72)—Doligon 13, Nacpil 13, Regalado 11, Gabas 8, Velasquez 7, Mantilla 7, Roy 7, Monteclaro 3, Aguilar 2, Porlares 1
QUARTERSCORES: 33-15, 48-34, 71-49, 92-72
(JNP)