Nueva Ecija stun Davao Occidental Tigers 74-73 on Saturday in Filbasket

  

Photo: Filbasket FB page

 

DAVAO CITY – The dream of Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) champion Davao Occidental Tigers to score a back-to-back victory has ended in a nightmare on Saturday evening.

This scenario developed after Nueva Ecija scored a 74-73 upset win against the heavily favored Tigers in Filbasket Subic Championship at the Subic Gymnasium.

Former pro-veteran point guard James Martinez scored 14 points to carry his team to victory against the Tigers.

Down by eight Martinez and his teammates played with more heart to rally and eventually beat the team of head coach Matt Makalintal.

With the defeat, the Tigers dropped to 1-1 in the ongoing Filbasket season.

Aside from the Tigers, some of the top commercial leagues in the Philippines outside the PBA are also joining Filbasket such as MPBL teams Pasig City Realtors, Muntinlupa Defenders, and San Juan Knights.

The former head coach of the Tigers Don Dulay earlier resigned from his post to focus on his family in the United States.

Three professional basketball players from Davao City are part of the Davao Occidental Tigers team this year.

Leading the way for the three Davaoenos is point-guard Joe Presbitero, a former varsity player of Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) who was recently drafted by the NLEX Road Warriors in the 2021 PBA draft.

Also part of the Tigers roster this year is 6’4 big man Darryl Bayla, a former player of Arellano University in the NCAA and former Perpetual Help University Altas varsity player Gab Dagangon, who previously played for the Basilan Steel.

The Tigers who are the defending MPBL champion decided to change their roster in order for them to be more competitive and have a better chance of defending their title this year. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)