Mindanao-based team Davao Occidental continued to make a good impression in the ongoing MPBL Datu Cup as the Tigers blasted the Quezon City Capitals, 90-78, for their second win in a row and a share of the lead with Muntinlupa in the southern division Tuesday night.
Playing without an injured Bonbon Custodio and missing Mark Yee for most part of the match, the Tigers needed a big third-quarter run before completing the come-from-behind win.
Custodio, a PBA journeyman who was recruited by the Tigers a day before the tournament started, was sidelined by a nagging back injury.
Yee, a veteran forward who last played with Dyip of the old Columbian Autocar franchise, brought a wrong set of uniform and had to wait for the right one to be able to play.
He was inserted in the last 41 seconds of the match when the game was practically all decided.
But the absence of these key players hardly had any effect on the formidable Davao Occidental side, which got big games from amateur standout Eman Calo and EX-PBA forward Leo Najorda.
Calo, who played for MP Hotel in the PBA D-League, finished with 21 points, the same output produced by Najorda.
“We had a good start, but it is still far from what I want,” said Don Dulay, head coach of the Cocolife-backed Davao Occidental, on the team’s 2-0 start. “I know we can still play better. Our team showed a lot of fight. May laban lahat ng players.”
Laguna turned to former TNT player Jai Reyes who finished with a rare double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Krah-sponsored Heroes outplayed the Pasig Pirates-Gameville, 83-75, in the other game.