THE Clarin Sto. Niño are now just two games from sweeping the elimination round of the Mindanao leg of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup after they blew away JPS Zamboanga City, 95-69, on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the Pagadian City Gymnasium.
A sweep would give Clarin an automatic berth in the finals and would relegate the playoffs into a stepladder format.
Clarin made their move in the fourth period where they uncorked a huge 19-2 run capped off by a layup by Marvin Hayes that turned what was a close 61-62 game into an 80-64 rout with just 4:34 left in the game. In all, Clarin outscored JPS, 34-7, in the final stanza to hike their record up to 6-0.
John Wilson came alive in the second half where he poured in 23 of his 25 points. The former MPBL MVP also had five rebounds and three steals. Carlo Lastimosa and Hayes also had solid outings with 14 and 12 points, respectively while big man Joseph Eriobu added 11 markers and eight boards.
Leading Zamboanga was Jerwin Gaco with 16 points and nine rebounds. Mac Cardona was the other player in double figures with 10 points.
The defeat dragged JPS to 4-3. (JNP)