MANILA – Davao Occidental Tigers rallied to a 77-71 escape over Bicol Volcanoes in Game 1 of the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup best-of-three quarterfinals at the Rizal Memorial Colleges Gym in Davao City on Feb. 17.
Negrense Mark Yee dropped a double-double performance of 20 points and 12 rebounds, while the Ilonggo guard Billy Ray Robles added 11 markers. Eman Calo and Yvan Ludovice also had a hot night by scoring 18 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Tigers.
Trailing 29-40 early in the third quarter, Davao leaned on the exploits of Yee and Ludovice to level the score at 46-all. The Tigers would later roar to a 55-53 edge via baskets from Calo.
Down by a point at 58-57, Davao went on a huge offensive blast from Robles and Yee to establish a 71-63 advantage. The Volcanoes erupted one last time at 71-74, but clutch free throws by Ludovice iced the win for Davao.
In the other quarterfinals clash of the cup, Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines gutted out a 78-74 victory over Batangas City Tanduay Athletics in the start of their own best-of-three cage wars.
Alvin Pasaol led the charge for Zamboanga by finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist. Robin Roño added 13 markers and eight rebounds, while Aaron Black chipped in 11 marks for the victors./PN
