Mariners nail first win in Super Cup

MANILA, Philippines — The Tubigon Bohol Mariners finally barged into the win column of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, pulling the rug from under the Tabogon Voyagers, 92-77, yesterday at the Alcantara Civic Center in Cebu.

Narciso “Pari” Llagas Jr. exploded for a tournament-high 35 points and 10 rebounds in only 28 minutes of action as the Mariners scored their maiden win in seven starts in the Visayas leg of the upstart league.

The seasoned cager from the University of the East shot an efficient 15-of-17 clip with only one error while Joseph Marquez delivered 15 points, five rebounds and six assists  in the breakthrough win.

“We just told ourselves to continue fighting every game, to keep giving our best every match. Tulong-tulong kami dito para makuha itong first win,” said Llagas, the 9th pick in the 2010 PBA Rookie Draft.

Llagas put up 24 points in the first half alone before conniving with Marquez and Wade Cabizares in their third-quarter breakaway, erecting a 73-62 lead that they never relinquished the rest of the game.

Richmond Bersabal stood his ground with a solid 20-16 double-double but Tabogon still succumbed to a second straight loss at 3-5 following a 75-104 blowout loss to undefeated Talisay last Friday.