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Defending South Division champion Davao Cocolife Tigers started their campaign on a bright note, downing Zamboanga Family Sardines, 84-82, on the opening day of 2019-2020 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Lakan Cup Season 3 Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The MPBL Season 2 Datu Cup runner-up Tigers’ new acquisitions Chester Saldua, Ivan Ludovice, Marco Balagtas and Richard Albo passed their baptism of fire as they easily fit the system of coach Don Dulay and delivered the goods for the Mindanao team of Rep. Claudine Bautista (Dumper) of Davao Occidental, backed by Cocolife President Atty. Jose Martin Loon, CFO Artemio Tanchoco Jr., CHD Franz Joie Araque, CRDD Joseph Ronquillo, and AVP Rowena Asnan.
Veteran frontliners Mark Yee, Bonbon Custodio and Billy Ray Robles gallantly stood their ground offensively and defensively to spoil Zamboanga’s hotshot Harold Arboleda in his explosive performance in the tight game that had 9 lead changes and 4 deadlocks. Robles’ clean block on a go-ahead attempt by Zamboangueno Med Salim with 23 seconds preserved the victory for Davao Cocolife.
“Go hard lang at focus parati sa game ang motivation sa amin ni coach (Dulay),” said the game’s Best Player Robles, who scored 14 points, hauled 7 rebounds and issued 4 assists.
Former PBA standout James Forrester, a last-minute bigman acquisition for the Tigers, played briefly in a scoreless performance in the regional basketball tilt organized by Senator Manny Pacquiao.
