The Davao Occidental Tigers silenced the packed crowd at the WES Arena with a 79-65 beating of the Valenzuela Classics on Thursday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season elimination round.
With Jun Manzo, Kenneth Ighalo and Bambam Gamalinda notching double figures, the Tigers surged ahead at 51-35 en route to their eighth win against two losses in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Earlier games saw Manila thwart Rizal, 75-67, and Pasay stun Binan, 76-65.
Powered by Greg Slaughter and Carl Bryan Cruz, the Manila Stars led throughout in rising to a 7-4 record.
Asserting his 7-foot frame, Slaughter posted 16 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks while Cruz tallied 20 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks.
They were supported by Fil-AM DJ Mitchell with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, Pao Javelona with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Jan Jamon with 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Manzo finished with 15 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds for the Tigers, the 2021 MPBL Lakan Season champions. Ighalo posted 12 points and 9 rebounds while Gamalinda tallied 10 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
Yutien Andrada contributed 8 points and 6 rebounds for the Tigers who gained control with a 10-point cluster in the first quarter, 17-8.
Valenzuela, missing the services of the injured Dennis Santos, the suspended Orin Catacutan and Fil-Peruvian Val Chauca, tumbled to 6-5 despite the 17-point, 3-rebound effort of Chris De Chavez and the 10-point, 3-rebound output of JR Quinahan.
The Tigers ruled the boards, 50-41, which resulted in 48 points against only 22 for the Classics.
