DEFENDING champion Davao Occidental-Cocolife averted what could have been a huge meltdown, hacking out a 105-91 victory over hard-fighting Manila to remain unscathed in the Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the AYSN Sports Center in San Juan.

Larry Rodriguez tallied 19 points and grabbed three rebounds for the Tigers, while Keith Agovida chipped in 18 markers and seven boards.

John Wilson also had 16 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Bonbon Custodio and Renzo Subido finished with 14 and 11 markers, respectively for Davao, which scored a big follow-up to an 88-85 decision over Boracay in the league’s opening match last week and rose to 2-0 in the tourney presented by Dumper party-list, Winzer, and Converge and supported by Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with PBA and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris serving as Commissioner.

Later, veteran guard James Martinez dazzled with 31 points to steer Bicol to an 88-83 win over gritty Cagayan De Oro-PSP.

The 35-year-old Martinez added two caroms and two dimes, while Alwin Alday provided ample help with 13 markers and six rebounds as the Spicy Oragons redeemed themselves from a 74-78 loss to Batang Kankaloo-Caloocan four days ago and improved to 1-1.

A runaway triumph seemed to be in the bag for the Tigers after a Subido three-pointer stretched the difference to as much as 77-54 at the 3:04 mark of the third canto.

Refusing to lie down and die, the Stars battled back in the final stanza and razed the deficit to just 90-96 on a Rence Alcoriza triple with 2:58 to go.

But Davao retaliated with a vicious 9-0 binge capped by two free throws by Custodio that made it 105-90, only 1:23 left.

Alcoriza led Manila with 20 points, while Macky Acosta and Guilmer Dela Torre combined for 29 markers.

The Stars, who came off a 95-87 win over the Koolers last week, fell to 1-1.

Jamil Ortouste paced Cagayan De Oro-PSP with 22 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Ian Yutuc and Dariel Bayla contributed 21 and 13, respectively.

Cagayan De Oro-PSP dropped to 0-2, counting a 62-100 dumping at the hands of Sta. Rosa last week.

The scores:

First game

Davao (105) – Rodriguez 19, Agovida 18, Custodio 14, Subido 11, Jimenez 7, Arana 5, Dagangon 4, Balagtas 4, Apreku 3, Hubalde 2, Goloran 2, Ibañez 0, Alao 0, Calo 0.
Manila (91)– Alcoriza 20, Acosta 18, Dela Torre 11, Shaw 9, Dela Cruz 9, Escosio 7, Acibar 6, Neypes 5, Arellano 3, Mangahas 2, Gayosa 1, Bataller 0, Wong 0, Morales 0, Manalo 0.
Quarterscores: 26-19, 49-39, 82-63, 105-91.

Second game

Bicol (88) – Martinez 31, Alday 13, Montuano 9, Pido 9, Castro 7, Destacamento 4, Carandang 3, Lao 3, Pingoy 3, Olegario 2, Manrique 2, Yu 0, Cudal 0, Sumalinog 0.
Cagayan (83) – Ortuoste 22, Yutuc 21, Bayla 13, Mohammad 7, Dela Cruz 7, Quiminales 5, Castillo 4, Udjan 2, Soriano 2, Macaranas 0, De Leon 0, De Guzman 0, Asistio 0, Reyes 0, Espiritu 0.
Quarterscores: 28-21, 55-38, 74-65, 88-83.