Defending champion Davao Occidental-Cocolife did just enough to fend off a late charge by Caloocan, hacking out a 67-61 decision for its seventh straight win in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Former PBA big man Larry Rodriguez showed the way for the Tigers with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Keith Agovida added nine markers, six boards, and two assists.
The victory allowed Davao Occidental to stretch its unbeaten run and score a fitting follow-up to an 81-79 escape over Quezon City last week for a 7-0 mark in the cage wars presented by Winzir and co-presented by SCD Cosmetics and Dumper party-list, and supported by NET 25, Adcon, Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with PBA and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris serving as Commissioner.
The Koolers saw their five-game winning streak— including a 107-80 drubbing of Bagong Cabuyao-Homelab Nation last Monday— come to a screeching halt and fell to 5-2, still good for fifth.
In other games, Will Gozum had a successful Pampanga Royce Hotel debut, helping waylay the Beacons 72-65 to rise to 6-0 for second.
The reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player played 12 minutes for seven points and two rebounds. Former Ateneo Blue Eagle BJ Andrade led the balanced attack for the Sandro Soriano-mentored squad with nine points, two steals, two rebounds, and two assists.
Nueva Ecija also snapped a three-game losing slide with a thrilling 72-71 escape over the erstwhile unscathed Pampanga G Lanterns.
With the game knotted at 68-all, Jerick Nacpil and John Ingel scored on back-to-back baskets for a four-point cushion. Kurt Reyson knocked down a clutch trey with five ticks left but time was not enough for the G Lanterns to keep their slate unblemished.
Gabby Espinas paced Caloocan with a double-double of 22 points, three caroms, and three dimes, while Paul Sanga got 12 and seven.
The scores
First game
PAMPANGA ROYCE HOTEL 72 – Andrade 9, Mendoza 9, Gozum 7, Bahio 6, Fornillos 6, Huang 6, Navarro 6, Tolentino 6, Palencia 4, Baetiong 3, Flores 3, Liwag 3, Villapando 3, Cullar 1.
QUEZON CITY 65 – Baracael 14, Arong 10, Octobre 8, Jamon 7, Peromingan 7, Javier 5, Lee Yu 5, Santos 4, Jeruta 3, Reyes 1, Casiño 0, Mahinay 0.
Quarters: 10-22, 32-40, 53-54, 72-71.
Second game
NUEVA ECIJA 72 – Nacpil 18, Altamirano 17, Lagrama 9, Pascual 9, De Guzman 6, Juanico 4, Mallari 4, Cruz 2, Ingel 2, Brutas 1, Bartolo 0, Ingusan 0.
PAMPANGA G LANTERNS 71 – Bringas 18, Reyson 17, Sangalang 7, Caralipio 6, Jamito 6, Capulong 4, Monte 4, Torrado 4, Gania 2, Vera 2, Concepcion 1, Garcia 0, Fontanilla 0, Pambid 0.
Quarters: 23-13, 38-33, 60-54, 72-71.
Third game
DAVAO OCCIDENTAL-COCOLIFE 67 – Rodriguez 13, Agovida 9, Wilson 9, Robles 7, Mag-isa 6, Subido 6, Balagtas 5, Dagangon 5, Custodio 4, Calo 3, Abundo 0, Sorela 0.
CALOOCAN 61 – Espinas 22, Sanga 12, Cervantes 9, Laude 8, Tayongtong 8, Iñigo 2, Caranguian 0, Cinco 0, Galicia 0, Gonzales 0, Manalang 0, Santos 0, Valin 0.
Quarters: 10-14, 21-25, 50-43, 67-61.
