Davao Occidental squeaked past Negros, 67-63, on Tuesday to get back on track in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Overtaken by the Negros Muscovados following a 9-point run, 62-62, the Tigers banked on Jun Manzo to cut short a two-game skid and improved to 9-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Manzo drove in to give Davao back the lead, and after Negros’ James Paul Una tied the count at 64, Dariel Bayla split his two charities and Manzo decided the outcome with two more free throws in the last 19.5 seconds.
Negros had a chance to force overtime, but Hubert Cani missed the probable game-extender with 6.3 seconds left.
Arth Dela Cruz led the Tigers with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, followed by veteran Kelly Nabong with 9 points and 9 rebounds. Kenneth Ighalo and Biboy Enguio contributed 8 points each for Davao Coach Manu Inigo.
Negros, which tumbled to 4-10 after its fifth straight defeat, drew 27 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals from Renz Palma and 11 points plus 14 rebounds from debuting recruit Buenaventura Raflores Jr.
The MPBL goes to the Villar Coliseum in Las Pinas on Wednesday with games pitting South Cotabato against Mindoro at 4 p.m., Batangas against Caloocan at 6 p.m., and Iloilo against Manila at 8 p.m.
