Davao City — Host team Davao Occidental Tigers devoured their rival Mandaluyong El Tigre even as the Pasay Voyagers continued their winning run, nipping the Quezon City Capitals in the MPBL Datu Cup at the Rizal Memorial College.
The Cocolife-backed Tigers pounced on a toothless El Tigre squad that played minus injured Ray Parks and won convincingly, 86-63.
Eman Calo finished with 17 points to pace the Tigers, who picked up their seventh straight win and firmed up their hold on solo second squad after improving their win-loss record to 9-3.
The El Tigre, backed by Dataland, played without Parks, who showed up in street clothes.
Head coach Mac Tan said Parks was not able to join the past few practices, owing to a shoulder injury.
Parks and Co. had been struggling lately and the loss against the Tigers extended their woes to four straight.
Mandaluyong, once the hottest team in the tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend Kenneth Duremdes, fell to 6-5.
Overshadowed by Davao Occidental’s latest triumph was Pasay’s inspiring 83-81 win.
Led by the athletic Bobby Balucanag, the Voyagers picked up their third consecutive victory and improved their record to 5-7.
Balucanag finished with a double-double performance of 26 points and 13 rebounds.
