BACOOR CITY — Davao Occidental-Cocolife hacked out a 62-58 victory over fifth-seeded Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines to advance to the 2020 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan South Division Finals, Thursday at the STRIKE Gymnasium here.
Kenneth Mocon took charge in the final frame, firing eight points in a 17-4 blast. That run then put Davao ahead by 14 points, 59-45, with 5:49 left in the game.
Not wanting to go down without a fight, the Zamboanga quartet of Alvin Pasaol, Santi Santillan, Anton Asistio, and Robin Roño connived in a 13-2 blast to slice the lead to just three, 58-61, with 58 ticks left.
Injured Mark Yee then air-balled a three for Davao, handing Zamboanga one last chance to extend the game.
Asistio, though, muffed a game-tying three-pointer on the other end. Bonbon Custodio then iced the game with a split from the line.
“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 that happened for us,” said Davao Occidental head coach Don Dulay.
Mocon, the lone double-digit scorer for Davao, had 14 points built on four three-pointers while also hounding Asistio throughout the final frame.
Chester Saldua chipped in eight points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Meanwhile, James Forrester had eight markers as well laced with four boards, three dimes, and two steals.
Yee — despite playing through a partial tear in his anterior cruciate ligament and a torn calf — produced four points, five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 12 minutes and 31 seconds of action.
On the other hand, Zamboanga homegrown cager Roño led his side, posting 15 points, three assists, and two boards. Asistio drained three triples for 14 markers.
Santillan added 12 points and eight boards. Pasaol, meanwhile, was held down to just nine points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Davao will face the winner between the Basilan-Bacoor semifinals match-up in the division finals.
The Scores:
Davao Occidental-Cocolife (62) — Mocon 14, Saldua 8, Forrester 8, Calo 6, Custodio 5, Balagtas 5, Robles 5, Gaco 5, Yee 4, Terso 2, Albo 0
Zamboanga-Family’s Brand Sardines (58) — Roño 15, Asistio 14, Santillan 12, Pasaol 9, Arboleda 5, Villamor 3, Morido 0, Thiele 0, Bonsubre 0, Manzo 0, Reyes 0, De Vera 0
Quarterscores: 11-14, 25-26, 44-41, 62-58
Story by Jonash Dannug
Photos by Nicks Hernandez
