DEFENDING champion Davao Occidental-Cocolife got back at Pampanga Royce Hotel, scoring an 82-77 victory last Wednesday night to forge a knockout match in Game 2 of their quarterfinals duel in the Manila Bankers Life-Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup before a packed Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Former pro John Wilson unleashed 20 points, grabbed six rebounds, and issued two assists for the Tigers, while Keith Agovida added 13 points and four rebounds.

Emman Calo also had 10 and five as Davao Occidental made up for a 74-98 loss in the series opener last Monday in the tourney presented by Dumper party-list, Winzir, and Skin Care Depot, co-presented by SCD Cosmetics, 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.

The do-or-die tiff is set today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, with the winner advancing to the Big Dance opposite the Pampanga G Lanterns, who repeated over San Juan 75-61 in the second match of their race-to-2 showdown before a wild and roaring home crowd.

King Caralipio notched 19 points and six rebounds for the G Lanterns, while Justine Baltazar turned in a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Kurt Reyson also scored 15 points for the charges of coach and Pampanga governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda which came on the heels of their 93-83 whipping in Game 1 of their Last Four battle also last Monday.

The scores

First game

Pampanga (75) – Caralipio 19, Baltazar 17, Reyson 15, Sangalang 8, Concepcion 7, Pambid 3, Binuya 2, K. Santos 1, R. Santos 1, Del Rosario 0, Capulong 0, Bautista 0, Jamito 0.

San Juan (61)– Wamar 20, Mojica 6, Javillonar 6, Yu 5, Calisaan 4, Marquez 3, Tajonera 3, Ubalde 3, Nocum 2, Panganiban 2, Taywan 2, Calahat 2, Soberano 0.

Quarterscores: 16-27, 38-34, 61-45, 75-61.

Second game

Davao Occidental-Cocolife(82) – Wilson 20, Agovida 13, Calo 10, Subido 9, Rodriguez 8, Dagangon 7, Jimenez 4, Celiz 4, Abundo 3, Balagtas 2, Robles 2.

Pampanga (77)– Mendoza 13, Palencia 13, Huang 10, J. Flores 8, Gozum 8, Verano 7, Bahio 6, Liwag 6, Cullar 3, Yambing 0, Tolentino 0, C. Flores 0.

Quarterscores: 21-19, 41-39, 62-63, 82-77.