By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno – PNA
MANILA — Eman Calo was left undrafted in the Philippine Basketball Association Draft on Sunday night. Three days later, Calo showed the top tier league what it will miss out.
Calo exploded at home even as Bogs Raymundo put up a perfect game as the Davao Occidental Tigers spoiled San Juan Knight’s bid to snap another long winning streak in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup, with an 87-75 victory, at the Rizal Memorial Colleges Gymnasium in Davao City early Wednesday.
In the game that started around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday and ended just before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Tigers scored their 13th straight win at the expense of the Knights, who threatened to once again use their streak-busters tag.
Davao Occ went berserk in the third quarter, opening a 64-44 lead with 1:29 left in the period.
But San Juan ended the quarter with seven unanswered points anchored upon its pressure defense and even started the fourth with six more straight points to cut the lead down to seven, 64-57.
Behind huge baskets from Calo and Raymundo, the Tigers held on, even bringing the lead back to 16 before settling for the 12-point winning margin.
Calo put up 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block for Davao Occ, which moved up to 15-3, 3.5 games clear of Muntinlupa for first place in the Northern Division.
Raymundo added 18 points on 8-for-8 field goals and 2-for-2 free throws with nine rebounds and three blocks.
Larry Rodriguez made 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks for San Juan, which fell to third place in the Northern Division at 15-4.
