Davao Occidental inch closer to MPBL crown after downing San Juan

In a war of attrition, Davao Occidental moved one step closer to the Chooks-to-Go Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League national title after prevailing over San Juan 66-58, in the third game of the Lakan Season Finals Saturday afternoon at the Subic Bay Gymnasium.

The Tigers saw their huge 14-point half-time lead nearly evaporated in the Knights’ onslaught, but got their act together just in time to avert yet another meltdown for a 2-1 series lead, as they get the first crack of getting their revenge on the reigning national champions Sunday afternoon in Subic.

Just like the first two encounters, it was emotionally charged and physical right from the opening tip, as fouls dominate the game's storyline with a total of sixty calls have been whistled, with the Tigers barely escaped the game despite losing veterans Mark Yee, Eman Calo and Jerwin Gaco, who all had fouled out of the contest.

Fresh from a double-double in their Game 2 defeat Thursday, forward Billy Ray Robles stepped up to the plate and filled his line with a team-high 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks en route to register a game-high index rating of 19.

Guards Kenneth Mocon and Bonbon Custodio gave the Ilonggo Superman lift from its reserves, as they added 11 and 10 respectively for coach Don Dulay despite having less bench points than San Juan.

"Our defense came through. We gave only 58 points and if we can play defense like this, we have a big chance," he said after the game.

Mike Ayonayon had 16 off the bench for San Juan, who had inched to within three points twice in the second half, the most recent came at 53-56 in the final canto on a John Wilson trey but DavOcc answered it with their pair of rainbow shots, courtesy of Joseph Terso and Mocon to put the Northern champs trailing for the second time in the series.

The Knights rue not just their 17 turnovers that the Tigers converted into 21 points, but also their horrible trip from the free throw line where they only shot 11/24. In contrast, DavOcc hit 26/37 from the stripe.

The scores:

DAVAO OCCIDENTAL 66 – Robles 13, Mocon 11, Custodio 10, Yee 7, Gaco 7, Ludovice 6, Calo 6, Terso 3, Saldua 2, Balagtas 1

SAN JUAN 58 – Ayonayon 16, Wilson 12, Wamar 8, Rodriguez 6, Clarito 5, Isit 5, Reyes 4, Pelayo 2, Tajonera 0, Estrella 0, Gabawan 0, Marquez 0

Quarter scores: 15-14, 41-27, 52-42, 66-58

Photo: MPBL