Davao Occidental rips Bacoor; Cebu crushes Pasay in MPBL

BACOOR, Cavite — The Davao Occidental Tigers continued their rampage Thursday night, routing the Bacoor Strikers, 69-50, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup at Strike Gymnasium here.

With the power duo of Mark Yee and Leo Najorda again wreaking havoc, the Cocolife-backed Tigers cruised to their 12th straight victory and climbed to 14-3, gaining ground on the pacesetting Bataan Risers (14-2) and San Juan Knights (15-3) and tying the Manila Stars.

Yee accounted for his ninth double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, the most this conference, while Najorda contributed 16 points and six rebounds for the Tigers, who pounded the Strikers in the shaded lane, 51-36.

Hobbled by awful shooting from the floor, 20 of 68, and the charity stripe, 7 of 17, the Strikers were held to a franchise-low output by the Strikers, who also drew 10 points from Billy Robles.

So cold were the Strikers that the 11 points of Gab Banal turned out to be the team's best.

Not even the presence of former Senator Bong Revilla and team owner Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla and his wife, Chayne Cabal-Revilla, CFO of Smart, could inspire the Strikers, who suffered their third straight defeat and fell to an even 8-8 slate.

Earlier, the Cebu City Sharks bared sharper jaws in a 76-61 crushing of the Pasay Voyagers.

Powered by Rhaffy Octobre, the Casino Ethyl Alcohol-supported Sharks climbed to 7-11, surpassing their victims who fell to 6-11.

Octobre fired 17 points, 15 in the first half, and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Sharks dominated the boards, 62-37.

Patrick Cabahug added 12 points for the Sharks, who pulled away from the Voyagers, 59-31, in the third quarter.

Pasay got 20 points from Shaquille Alanes, but no other Voyager could score in double figures.

The MPBL holds its games at Olivares College Gymnasium on Friday with Pasig battling Imus at 7 p.m. and Paranaque tackling Basilan at 9 p.m.