PAGADIAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — Hesed Gabo of Jumbo Plastic-Basilan was hailed as the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Leg Season MVP, Sunday.
Gabo led the Peace Riders to an immaculate 8-0 record in the eliminations to gain an outright Finals berth.
“Unang-una, salamat sa Panginoon na nandito kami ngayon sa Finals. Salamat din sa teammates ko saka sa coaches ko,” said the newly-minted MVP.
The 5-foot-9 point guard tallied 10.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in eight outings.
He also made the league’s second-ever triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 17 assists in a 140-106 victory over MisOr last July 23.
Gabo’s 17 dimes also set a new record for most assists in VisMin history, shattering Jerick Cañada’s 15-assists landmark back in the Visayas Leg.
Joining Gabo in the Mythical Team were teammate Michael Mabulac; MVP runner-up James Castro (Petra Cement-Roxas); John Wilson (Clarin); and Jerwin Gaco (Zamboanga City).
Castro was the man who stepped up for the Vanguards during their five-game win streak in the eliminations.
In those five games, he averaged 16. 4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists. Meanwhile, in their three defeats, he only had 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
On the other hand, Wilson made history as the first-ever player to produce a triple-double in the league. He unloaded 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 98-65 win over Iligan on July 20.
Bruising big men Mabulac and Gaco each delivered two double-doubles for their squads.
Rich Guinitaran was the runaway winner for the Top Homegrown Player plum. He boasts averages of 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while leading Pagadian to the third seed.
