REIGNING southern division champion Davao Occidental had a slow start but poured its might in the final period to put away expansion team SOCCSKSARGEN, 104-75, in the MPBL Lakan Season Monday night at the Navotas Sports Complex.


The Cocolife-backed Tigers outscored the Marlins, 36-13, in the final period on their way to scoring their fourth consecutive win in this tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.


Davao Occidental now moved up to a share with the lead with Bacoor in the southern division as they  both carry a 6-1 win-loss record.    


 James Forrester of Davao Occidental looks for an opening.

Mark Yee had another double-double showing, finishing with 10 points and 13 rebounds. It was his 25th double-double performance since joining the fastest growing regional amateur basketball league.  But the veteran forward had a more significant feat which he recorded earlier in the 4:38 mark of the first period as he pulled down a rebound that made him only the second player to register at least 500 rebounds and 500 points in the young history of the MPBL.


Also winning Monday were host team Navotas and General Santos City.


Chris Masaglang of the Gen San Warriors attack his defender. 

The Clutch returned home since their last game was aborted when league officials declared the venue non-playable. In their comeback game, Navotas didn’t disappoint its local folks as it easily whipped Nueva Ecija, 125-97.


Members of the Navotas Clutch celebrate the team's win over the Nueva Ecija-MiGuard.

Navotas did it in a record-breaking fashion as the Clutch posted the best ever output produced by any team. The squad erased the 120-point production it set in last season’s Datu Cup. The Clutch also hit 55.2-percent from the field (42-of-61), also an all-time high made by any squad.


In posting its latest feat, Navotas drew a career-high 24 points from Jhong Bondoc, who hit a 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc.


General Santos City picked up its third straight win under new coach Rich Alvarez as the Warriors held off a late rally by Mindoro, 88-80.


The Warriors improved their win-loss record to 6-2 and climbed to solo third spot of the southern division.