By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Burlington EOG Sports bucked a slow start and stunned the Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife, 76-69, in the FilBasket Subic Championship at the Subic gym Wednesday.
James Castro and Byron Villarias fired 19 and 14 points for Burlington, who erased a 36-27 halftime deficit en route to its fifth win in eight matches.
Also shining was creative guard Lorenzo Navarro who contributed a little of everything for the team which snapped Davao’s five-game winning run.
With a 6-2 card, the Tigers slipped to second behind AICC Manila (7-1).
Meanwhile, Nueva Ecija Bespren bested 7A Primus, 95-92, to tie Burlington at third place with similar 5-3 cards.
Emil Renz Palma erupted for 30 points including eight straight points that erased Nueva Ecija’s 87-83 deficit for a 91-87 lead with 1:38 left.
James Martinez also contributed 15 points for Nueva Ecija as it dealt 7A Primus its sixth defeat in eight matches.
Medical Depot, meanwhile, leaned on Simon Camacho and Patrick Cabahug’s double-double performances to hike its win-loss tally to 4-4.
Camacho scored 22 points and 12 rebounds while Cabahug had 17 points and 10 boards.
Kevin Villafranca and Andrey Armenion also shone defensively for Medical Depot by combining for 23 rebounds.