The Davao Occidental Tigers pulled off a 75-73 squeaker over the Paranaque Patriots on Monday to regain traction in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the jampacked Olivarez College Gym in Paranaque.
Davao, the Third Season champion, clustered nine points, seven by Arth Dela Cruz, to pull ahead, 72-66, with 2 minutes and 52 seconds to go, but Paranaque countered and threatened at 73-75 following a triple by Jielo Razon with 27 seconds left.
The Patriots even got the chance for a reversal after the Tigers turned the ball over, but JP Sarao missed a triple with 2.7 ticks remaining, enabling Davao to recover from a 76-79 beating it absorbed from Caloocan on July 2.
Dela Cruz paced the Tigers to their 11th win in 16 starts with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, followed by Mark Tallo with 13 points, 3 rebounds plus 2 steals, and Keith Agovida with 13 points.
In earlier games, the Valenzuela Classics bested the Sarangani Marlins, 73-64, while the Negros Muscovados thwarted the Rizal Xentromall Golden Coolers, 103-94.
With veteran JR Quinahan at the helm, Valenzuela surged ahead, 79-61, en route to its third straight win and a 10-8 record.
Quinahan wound up with 20 points and 9 rebounds, followed by Carl Bryan Lacap with 12 points and 3 blocks and Reeve Ugsang with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
Caption: Arth Dela Cruz delivers for Davao Occidental
