Talisay City’s Patrick Cabahug. VISMIN SUPER CUP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—MJAS Zenith-Talisay City earned a bye to the finals of the Visayas leg of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup after its 99-62 beatdown of ARQ Builders-Lapu Lapu completed an elimination round sweep Thursday at Civic Center in Alcantara, Cebu.
The win gave the Aquamasters a perfect 10-0 record after the double round robin eliminations. They now wait for the winner in the stepladder playoffs to determine who they will face in the finals.
The league’s second seed will advance to the semifinals where it will have a twice-to-beat edge while third and sixth seeds as well as the fourth and fifth seeds will compete in knockout games with the winners facing each other to determine the other team in the semis.
Talisay City waxed hot early, going on a 24-9 lead in the first quarter on the back of the nine points that Patrick Cabahug made in the frame.
The Aquastars then used a 30-11 run to bury the Heroes in the fourth quarter.
Cabahug finished with 22 points, 15 of those coming from beyond the arch, while Kevin Villafranca added 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists for the Aquastars.
“Getting the sweep was a big deal for us because now we can rest up a bit,” said Aquastars head coach Aldrin Morante in Filipino. “All I can say is this achievement wouldn’t have happened if not for the players. They deserve to rest.”
Ferdinand Lusdoc led Lapu Lapu with 12 points while Jojo Tangkay and Chris Regero chipped in 10 points apiece.