BACOOR CITY — After tallying just 28 points in the series opener, Zamboanga came ready to bring out the big guns in Game Two of the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan South Semifinals.
Unfortunately for them, though, Davao Occidental-Cocolife sparkplug Kenneth Mocon was up to the challenge.
“’Yung role ko kasi dito is defender, so kung sino mang ipaharap sa ‘kin, idepensa sa akin. Ginagawa ko talaga lahat para hindi siya maka-score all throughout the game. Manlamig siya, mapagod siya, ‘yun lang,” said Mocon.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Anton Asistio had waxed hot, hitting three triples to top the scoring charts for Zamboanga with 12 markers. With that, Mocon made it a mission to shackle down the former Blue Eagle.
“Nung sa padulo kay [Anton] Asistio ako nakatutok na kasi he keeps on shooting the ball na e, siya na yung nag-cocontrol ng laro for them,” Mocon revealed.
After shadowing Asistio in the final period, the 26-year-old Mocon was able to limit him to just two points — both coming from the line — for the rest of the game.
But the product of San Beda did more than just that. He also went the extra mile just to deliver the victory for Davao. Mocon, who’d hounded Zamboanga’s shooters all-game long, took charge on offense, uncorking eight points in telling 17-4 blast to give Davao a 59-45 lead with 5:49 left in the game.
Though Zamboanga came within three, Davao did just enough to come out with a 62-58 Game Two victory and earn the first seat in the South Finals.
“Hindi ko naman hinihiling na tumira nang tumira, pero if there’s a chance, ayon. Tulad ng nangyari sa ‘kin, naka-shoot ako ng mga libreng tira. Tinira ko and I made it. ‘Yun lang,” said Mocon, who poured eight of his 14 points in the fourth.
“Para sa akin nakaka-proud kasi ‘yung mga pinaghirapan ko nagbubunga na. Lahat ng sacrifices ko all throughout my basketball career ito na, ito na ‘yung bunga noon.”
And no one was happier to see Mocon reap the fruits of his hard work than Davao head coach Don Dulay, who has witnessed his perseverance all year long.
“First, I wanna say, Kenneth, he’s been working so hard all year. We love to have him on this team because he’s so defensive-minded, but he also works so hard on offense and it showed tonight,” Dulay said.
“He made clutch baskets for us tonight. There were times like we couldn’t get a basket and he’s the one hitting that big three for us.”
Story by Jonash Dannug
Photo by Nicks Hernandez
