SAN FERNANDO — This duel proved why games are won on the hardcourt and not on paper.
Proving steadier when it mattered most, Cagayan de Oro-PSP stunned erstwhile unbeaten and defending champion Davao Occidental-Cocolife, carving out an 89-85 victory Thursday night in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.
Cagayan de Oro rode on Jaypee Dela Cruz’s clutch trip to the foul line in its shocking triumph as he sank two free throws with 16 ticks left that pegged the final count.
The Tigers went to former PBA player John Wilson in their last-gasp try to force overtime, but his three-point attempt missed the mark in the last 6.0 seconds.
Deo Lucero sizzled with 23 points, to go with two rebounds and six assists for Cagayan de Oro, while Jeff Comia chipped in 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Jopet Soriano and Ian Yutuc also had 13 and 11 points, respectively for Cagayan de Oro, which rebounded from an 82-89 loss to Boracay last week and improved to 2-7 in in the tourney presented by Winzir and co-presented by SCD Cosmetics and Dumper party-list, and supported by NET 25, Adcon, Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with PBA and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris serving as commissioner.
Davao Occidental saw its seven-game winning streak that included a 67-61 triumph over Batang Kankaloo-Caloocan also last week come to a screeching halt and dropped to 7-1 for third.
In the other game, the Pampanga G Lanterns brought down Manila 78-69 to get back on track.
Kurt Reyson boomed in six triples and finished with 20 points and two rebounds for Pampanga, while Jayson Apolonio added 18 points and six rebounds.