ALCANTARA -- The MJAS Zenith-Talisay City Aquastars won their sixth in a row with a 97-65 mauling of the Bohol Mariners in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup on Thursday afternoon, April 22, at the Alcantara Civic Center in Alcantara, Cebu.
The Aquastars got off to a sluggish start and at one point, even trailed by 11, 24-35, in the second. However, it was a completely different story in the second half as Talisay City rode the hot hands of Val Acuña and Jaymar Gimpayan in an 11-0 run at the start of the third that vaulted them to a 48-41 lead.
Patrick Jan Cabahug, Egie Boy Mojica, Darrell Shane Menina and Kevin Villafranca all joined the scoring parade during that crucial stretch that helped Talisay build a 66-47 lead heading to the fourth. The final canto was merely a formality as the Aquastars’ reserves poured it on to complete the 32-point rout.
All in all, Talisay outscored Bohol, 59-24, in the second half.
Talisay City now owns a perfect 6-0 (win-loss) mark while Bohol remains winless so far in this competition.
Acuña led the Aquastars with 14 points, highlighted by four three-pointers. Canahug also made three triples to finish with 13 markers while Gimpayan had 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Talisay City’s frontcourt also did a lot of damage as cener Jhaymo Eguilos added 11 points, six boards and two blocks while Villafranca, a power forward from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, had his best game of the tournament so far with nine points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Jonathan Ibarra was Bohol’s high-point man with 16 while Joseph Marquez had 14 points and eight rebounds. Pari Llagas chipped in 13 points and 10 boards.
THE SCORES:
Talisay (97)—Acuña 14, Gimpayan 13, Cabahug 13, Eguilos 11, Villafranca 9, dela Cerna 7, Menina 5, Mojica 5, Moralde 4, Santos 4, Casajeros 4, Hubalde 2, Ugsang 2, Cuyos 2, Jamon 2
Bohol (65)—Ibarra 16, Marquez 14, Llagas 13, Musngi 8, Dadjijul 6, Tilos 4, Cabizares 2, Casera 2
Quarterscores: 18-20, 38-41, 66-47, 97-65
(JNP)