Davao Occidental-Cocolife is on a roll.
The Tigers from Mindanao overcame a huge 20-point deficit in he first half before preserving their endgame brilliance to snatch a 72-66 victory over Laguna in the 2018 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup elimination round at Marist School Gym in Marikina City over the weekend,
The Cocolife Tigers extended their winning streak to six and tightened their grip on second place in South Division team standings.
Laguna’s go-to guy, ex-pro Denok Miranda, along with Michel Mabulac, started like a house on fire to gain control in the early goings and maintain a double-digit spread at the half, 45-29.
But Leo Najorda and Ilonggo superstar Billy Robles stepped up for the Davao Cocolife team owned by Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental LGU and backed by Cocolife president Elmo Mobleza, FVP Joseph Ronquillo and AVP Rowena Asnan as they slowly trimmed Laguna’s lead.
A jumper from veteran Bonbon Custodio with two minutes left in third canto pushed the Tigers to within a single digit deficit off the lead of Laguna, which only scored a measly seven in the penultimate quarter.
The first deadlock came after Najorda’s triple on the final 2:51 of the game, followed by a go-ahead basket by Custodio after Miranda’s turnover as the Tigers completed the come-from-behind victory for an impressive 8-3 win-loss record in the league organized by Senator Manny Pacquiao.