Davao Occidental won eight of its last nine games to boost its playoff bid in the MPBL Sixth Season even as Manila continued to look more menacing with seven-foot center Greg Slaughter patrolling paint Thursday night at the WES Arena in Valenzuela City.
The Tigers of Davao Occidental are playing more ferocious and they had added a new victim in home team Valenzuela, 79-65, as Jun Manzo provided the energy all game long.
Manzo finished with 15 points to lead the way for the Tigers, who had improved their win-loss record to 8-2.
But Manzo wasn’t the only bright spot for the Tigers, who also drew solid games from former PBA players Kenneth Ighalo and Bam Gamalinda.
One of the key additions of the team this season, Ighalo produced 12 points and fell a rebound away from posting a double-double performance in what was easily one of his best games since last participated for the NLEX Road Warriors last year.
Gamalinda, on the other hand, contributed 10 markers and has been a steady presence up front.
The Tigers continued to growl as they made everybody heard that they’re back in business in their return to the MPBL this season.
But like the Tigers, the Stars of Manila are also trying to make their presence felt this season and the biggest player in the league — Slaughter — is beginning to stamp his class.
Slaughter played yet another solid game, imposing his will with a 16-point, 19-rebound output in another dominant fashion that propelled the Stars to their seventh win in 11 games following Manila’s 740-67 triumph over Rizal.
Also winning was Pasay, which handed Biñan a sound 76-65 beat down.
