MJAS-Talisay’s Patrick Cabahug ready to take on KCS-Mandaue’s vaunted defense

ALCANTARA -- Patrick Jan Cabahug may have made a professional career out of putting the ball into the basket but his vaunted offensive skills will be tested when he goes up against the imposing defense of the KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue in the finals of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup.

Cabahug is one of the contenders for the Most Valuable Player award in the Visayas leg with averages of 13.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per outing. However, he is well aware of KCS’s defensive prowess and is already ready to take it head on with the rest of his teammates.

“We just have to make sure that we don’t react to their physicality,” said Cabahug. “We need to play as a team and make sure we are executing our plays.”

Although Talisay City has had Mandaue’s number all season long, winning by a mile 77-57 in the first round before coming away with a much-closer 81-73 win in the second round, Cabahug says this is tantamount to nothing especially with KCS having momentum after their 74-64 semifinal win over the ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu Heroes last Wednesday.

Cabahug is also aware of the fact that this would be an entirely different Mandaue squad with the presence of former PBA guard, Ping Exciminiano, who sat out most of the elimination round due to an injured hamstring. Exciminiano bolsters an already potent KCS defense that limited both Bohol and Dumaguete to 50-points in their previous match-ups.

Cabahug is also looking forward to facing off against fellow PBA player, Gryann Mendoza, who was scintillating versus ARQ, tallying 25 points and eight rebounds. The veteran, though, will make sure that he sticks to the gameplan Talisay City head coach Aldrin Morante has set for the games in the finals.

“I’m very excited for that match up (with Mendoza),” he said. “But we will still play team offense and team defense since that’s the strength of our team.” (JNP)