GLOBALPORT-MISOR claimed the top seed after the elimination round as they beat Roxas, 84-73, in the final day of eliminations of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge eliminations on Dec. 10, 2021 at the Pagadian City Gymnasium.
The win gave the Valientes an outright ticket to the semifinals where they will wait for the winner of the quarterfinals showdown between Zamboanga Sibugay and Roxas. The knockout semi finals are on Monday.
“We had many chances to clinch but this league is tough,” said MisOr head coach Vis Valencia.
The Valientes got off to a fast start and led, 25-10, after the first period. And unlike their first encounter wherein the Vanguards rallied from a 23-point deficit to win the match, there would be no comeback this time around as MisOr battened down the hatches and never let Roxas come close.
The closest the Vanguards could get was eight after back-to-back layups by James Martinez at the 7:17 mark of the payoff period, 55-63.
Joseph Nalos and Ralph Salcedo then joined hands in a 9-2 rally to restore its margin to 15, 72-57, with 5:30 left.
Nalos, a former ace of KCS Mandaue, scored a team-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go with five assists, while Reil Cervantes added 12 points.
Another Cebuano, Brylle Meca, provided a lift off the bench with 12 points while former University of San Jose-Recoletos stalwart Nicole Ubalde had 11 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
Martinez’s 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting alongside five assists were not enough for Roxas.
Cyrus Tabi had 13 points while Wawa Templo chipped in 10. Marlon Monte was held scoreless, going 0-of-7 in 27 minutes.
The Vanguards slipped to 6-6, tied with the Anak Mindanao Warriors for fourth but the latter hold the edge for winning both their games.