Tigers, Knights seal National Finals clash

DAVAO CITY—There are times when rookie coach Don Dulay of Davao Occidental feels he has to take a step back and enjoy the ride.

With the Tigers playing 32 games in the last 10 months in a grueling Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup season, the youthful mentor barely has time to appreciate the rise of his team to the top of the South division of the community-based league.

Dulay hardly celebrated as the Tigers overcame inaugural MPBL champion Batangas City Athletics, 66-51, in their rubber match on Monday night at a jampacked Almendras Gym here.

Not with the formidable San Juan Knights led by another young mentor Randy Alcantara, due to arrive for Game 1 of the best-of-five national finals on Thursday night.

The Knights completed a remarkable turnaround by crushing Manila, 85-74, in Game 3 to rule the North division.

“I’ve been really blessed to really have a good group of players who bought into what we were doing and we were trying to achieve,” said the 38-year-old Dulay, who went undrafted in the PBA in 2007, but was acquired by Rain or Shine as a free agent and went on to play four seasons in the league.

“It’s overwhelming to be in this position so early in my coaching career and I have my players, the management of the team and the staff to thank for that. But we’re not done yet.”

Under Dulay, ex-PBA players Bonbon Custodio and Mark Yee have been rejuvenated.