ZAMBOANGA CITY and Petra Cement-Roxas City defeated separate foes to draw first blood at the start of their respective semifinals best-of-three series of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup on Sunday at the Pagadian City Gymnasium in Zamboanga del Sur.

JPS survived second seed Clarin, 70-68, to take Game One behind Jerome Ferrer's two baskets that provided them a 70-66 cushion with 1:17 left. Although Clarin's Joseph Eriobu sank both free throws to keep the game at jabbing distance, Clarin's Carlo Lastimosa and John Wilson muffed their game-tying attempts at the buzzer.

"Our defense was tighter today because we knew they had good wingmen with good shooting hands. John Wilson did not score double digits. That was a big thing for us," said Zamboanga head coach Tony Pardo.

Mac Cardona played his best game in Zamboanga uniform with 17 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

Gabby Espinas nabbed his fourth double-double of the tournament with 15 points, on 7-of-9 shooting, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. 

JPS looks to eliminate Clarin tomorrow in Game Two at 4 pm, while Sto. Niño shoots for an equalizer.

Petra Cement-Roxas, meanwhile, outlasted home team Pagadian, 78-67, behind James Castro's 19 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and two steals. 

Big man Lester Reyes had a huge double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. He put the exclamation point with a one-handed dunk in the waning seconds of the game.

The Vanguards shoot for a seat in the second phase of the semifinals tomorrow, 6 pm, while the Explorers aim to extend the series to a rubber match.

Read full article on BusinessMirror