MANILA – Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife advanced to the finals of the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup after a close 62-58 triumph over the Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines at the STRIKE Gymnasium in Bacoor, Cavite on March 5.
Clinging on to a slim 44-41 lead after three quarters, the Tigers relied on the offensive exploits of Kenneth Mocon in the final period, firing eight points in a 17-4 scoring run that built a 59-45 lead.
Not wanting to go home without going hard, the Zamboanga quartet of Alvin Pasaol, Leonard Santillan, Anton Asistio and Robin Roño connived in a 13-2 blast to slice the deficit to just three, 58-61, with under a minute left.
Negrense Mark Yee then air-balled a triple for the Tigers, handing Zamboanga one last chance to bring the game. However, Asistio misfired his triple try and Bonifacio Custodio then sealed the win for the Tigers with a free throw.
“We expected Zamboanga to fight. I was hoping to stay within striking distance the game, and luckily, our experience carried us in the fourth. We’re lucky that it happened for us,” said Tigers head coach Don Dulay.
Mocon had 14 points built on four three-pointers, Chester Saldua chipped in eight points, seven rebounds and three assists, while James Forrester had eight markers, four boards, three dimes and two steals for the Tigers.
Yee, who played with a partial tear in his anterior cruciate ligament and with a torn calf, produced four points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 12 minutes and 31 seconds of action.
Meanwhile, the Bacoor Strikers lived to fight another day in the other semifinals series following an 80-69 win over the Basilan Steel.
Chestern Melencio top-scored with 17 points, while his teammates Mark Montuano and Michael Mabulac had 15 and 14 markers, respectively for the winning team./PN
