ALL-TIME LOW SCORE. Davao Occidental coach Don Dulay commends his team for limiting Zamboanga to an all-time single-game low in scoring in the MPBL on Monday night (Mar. 2, 2020). Davao defeated Zamboanga, 47-28, to win Game 1 of their semifinals match. (Photo courtesy of MPBL)
MANILA – One team usually can score 28 points in a single basketball quarter.
But on Monday night, Davao Occidental held Zamboanga to just 28 points in Game 1 of their Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Southern Division Semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Colleges-Petro Gazz Arena in Davao City.
Don Dulay, the head coach of the Tigers, has his entire team to thank for even if they themselves struggled in scoring too, only notching 47 which in effect made the said match the lowest-scoring game ever in the blossoming regional league.
"I have never seen anything like this as a coach, or even as a player so I got to give it to my coaching staff - they did a good job scouting - and of course to the players," Dulay said.
Davao Occidental limited Zamboanga to just five points in the first quarter and six in second for 11 first half points, the lowest ever in a half.
While Zamboanga somehow got its offense going with a 12-point third quarter, Davao Occidental kept the visiting side to just five again in the final frame.
Overall, Zamboanga was held to just 8-of-60 shooting from the field for a measly 13.3 percent.
Dulay said it was a testament to why Davao Occidental, the reigning South champion, is a contender for the MPBL national championship.
"Defense wins championships!" Dulay quipped.
Davao Occidental can book a return to the South finals with a win against Zamboanga in Game 2 of their best-of-three series on Friday night at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor City, Cavite. (PNA)
