South Cotabato and Caloocan prevailed over separate opponents on Friday and boosted their bids for better playoff placings in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
The South Cotabato Warriors subdued the Davao Occidental Tigers, 84-74, while the Caloocan Batang Kankaloo trounced the Negros Muscovados, 93-85, in the round-robin elimination phase of the 29-team tournament.
Powered by Jammer Jamito, South Cotabato raised its record to 16-11, switching sixth and seventh places with Davao, which dropped to 15-12 in the South Division.
Jamito posted 21 points and 17 rebounds to clinch the Daily Fantasy best player honors. He was supported by Fil-Am AJ Benzon with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists and Renzo Joson with 10 points, 4 steals and 3 assists.
Davao trailed by as many as 19 points (53-72) despite the 23-point, 20-rebound, 6-assist, 4-steal effort of Arth Dela Cruz.
Caloocan led throughout and by as far as 77-52 before coasting to a 15-9 slate in the North Division, where it is tied for the sixth spot with Abra.
Gabby Espinas posted 23 points and 13 rebounds, Paul Sanga tallied 22 points and 4 rebounds, and Reil Cervantes 15 points and 10 rebounds for Caloocan, now being coached by Ronnie Dojillo.
