The Davao Occidental Tigers remained unscathed after handing tough Cagayan de Oro Higalas a painful 83-70 defeat in the first-round elimination of the Pearl of the Orient Cup Pilipinas Super League at Manuel Roxas Gymnasium last Saturday.
Tigers Gab Dagangon, John Wilson, Emman Calo and homegrown Ron Anib waxed hot via a 12-4 run to stop the first-quarter surge by CDO’s Joko Tayongtong, Mel Villahermosa, Richard Co and JV Mantilla and grab the lead, 42-38, at the half.
The Davao Occidental squad, owned by the Bautista clan of Malita and supported by Cocolife president Atty. Jose Martin Loon, SVP Joseph Ronquillo, VP Rowena Asnan and EVP Franz Joie Araque, tried to break loose in the third, ignited by a back-to-back treys by Wilson and perimeter conversions by Dagangon.
Cris Lalata and Roby Celis stood their ground in the ensuing plays to protect the Tigers’ lead at 63-56, going into the final period en route to their fourth straight victory in as many games in the regional pro league (Pambansang Liga ng Pilipino), headed by PSL president Rocky Chan, VP Ray Alao and Commissioner Marc Pingris.
“Sinunod lang namin ang game-plan ni coach Mario (Bonleon). Tiwala lang sa sarili at walang bibigay,” said Cocolife Super Player of the Game Dagangon, who had a sterling show of 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Tigers’ early victims were the Roxas Vanguards, 63-59; Cagayan Valley Super Eagles,77-51; and the Pagadian Explorers, 82-59.