The Davao Occidental COCOLIFE Tigers overcame a sluggish start and clawed back into the game to dismantle AICC Manila, 90-87, in overtime in the main game of a tripleheader opening of the Filipino Basketball League (FILBASKET) Thursday at the Subic Bay Gymnasium, SBMA in Olongapo City.
AICC Manila (formerly Basilan Warriors) displayed its offensive and defensive prowess in controlling the game for almost three quarters, silencing the big guns of the reigning MPBL Lakan Cup champion Tigers from Mindanao.
Manila frontliners Chris Bitoon, Bobby Balucanag, Michael Juico, Fil-Canadian Jonathan Uyloan and big men Joy Collado and Melvin Taganas connived forces on both ends of the floor in erecting a huge 19-point lead halfway in the third canto.
But veteran Tigers Bonbon Custodio, Billy Ray Robles, Jerwin Gaco, Marco Balagtas, Joseph Terso, newcomers prized shooter John Wilson, Alwin Alday and Allan Santos combined efforts to neutralize their opponents’ strength to trim their big deficit to 54-61, courtesy of Wilson’s trey entering the final quarter.
While Collado, Balucanag and Juico maintained their composure to ease the pressure from a former arch rival, the Tigers, owned by Davao Occidental Gov.Claude Bautista, Rep. Claudine Bautista-Lim, manager Dinko Bautista and fully supported by COCOLIFE president Jose Martin Loon, SVP Joseph Ronquillo, VP Rowena Asnan and EVP Franz Joie Araque, began to show their might and waxed hot in taking the lead for the first time in the game, 72-70, on a Robles undergoal stab, with over two minutes left in regulation.
Sensing a come-from-behind victory, Wilson buried a two treys in ensuing plays, but Collado and Uyloan, who missed four from beyond the arc ealier, exploded with their long treys when it counted most, sending the game to an extra period, 78-all.
Davao COCOLIFE roared back in overtime to score a classic win, led by FILBASKET’s Best Player of the Game in Wilson, with 21 points on 4 of 5 shooting from downtown.
“It’s a classic game for both teams. Mabuti ‘di bumitaw ang ating Tigers kaya bandang huli nanaig ang ating Davao COCOLIFE system at nakapag-adust agad sa ating bagong coach Matt Makalintal at new players natin,” Tigers’ deputy manager Ray Alao said.
COCOLIFE SVP Ronquillo praised the team’s gallant stand.
“Experience dictated our first hard-earned victory and I’m sure it will go a long way to our mission in this new league,” said Ronquillo.