Tigers rule South elimination; Stars second in North

MANILA, Philippines — Davao Occidental and Manila went through the proverbial eye of the needle before pulling through in key matches in the Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season last Monday at the San Andres Sports Complex.

The Davao Occidental Tigers leaned on a clutch triple by Emman Calo with 8.8 seconds left to subdue the Marikina Shoemasters, 85-83, and close the elimination round with a South division best 26-4 record.

The Manila Stars, on the other hand, banked on tested partners Chris Bitoon and Aris Dionisio to foil Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines, 74-71, and finish as the second seed in the North division with a 25-5 slate.

As expected, the General Santos Warriors overpowered the Sarangani Marlins, 103-87, to climb to 17-12 in the South.

GenSan formally shut the playoffs door on Cebu Casino Ethyl Alcohol (15-14) and ended Sarangani’s season with a league-worst 1-29 tally.

Calo’s triple, followed by his block off Yves Sazon’s corner buzzer-beater, completed the Cocolife-supported Tigers’ climb from a 76-81 deficit with 1:17 left.

Von Tambeling, who sizzled with 32 points, pushed Marikina back on top with a drive, 83-82, but Calo saved the game for the Tigers and pulled down the Shoemasters to 7-22 in the North.

The Tigers drew 13 points from Joseph Terso, 11 points and 14 rebounds from Mark Yee and 11 points from Yvan Ludovice.

Marikina also got 23 points and 11 boards from Yves Sazon and 18 points plus 12 rebounds from high-leaper Renato Ular.