Cocolife Tigers to resume training for MPBL battle

The Davao Occidental Cocolife Tigers can now resume their comprehensive training and physical conditioning in preparation for their south division title retention bid against Basilan in the Lakan Cup of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League right in their bailiwick in Mindanao.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced last Thursday the downgrading of the Enhanced Community Quarantine to a General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in many areas of Mindanao, particularly  Davao Occidental, the home of the pacesetting Tigers.

The continuing increase of affected citizens from COVID-19 in the National Capital Region and other regions in Luzon and Visayas has prompted the President to extend the ECQ until May 15, as a result of the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The GCQ status in the south has paved the way for the Tigers of Dumper Party List Rep. Claudine Bautista of Davao Occidental, with support from Cocolife President Atty. Jose Martin Loon, FVP  Joseph Ronquillo, AVP Rowena Asnan and SVP Franz Joie Araque, to train in their hometurf as part of their motivation from the coaching staff and management, led by team manager Dinko Bautista and assisted by deputy Ray Alao.

“We will still follow the social-distancing scheme, where we will focus primarily in our physical conditioning. We are optimistic that we will go back to normal in the near future, where action to the tournament will once again witnessed by basketball-loving Filipinos in the MPBL,” said Alao, who acknowledged the players’ gains in their recent on-line practice sessions via Zoom.

The Tigers and Basilan are tied 1-1 in their best-of-three southern finals to force a rubber-match that was reset due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In the north division finals, defending champion San Juan and Makati are also tied at 1-1, with the deciding  Game 3 also postponed due to COVID-19.