MPBL: Davao rolls to third straight win

James Forrester stars for Davao Occidental. MPBL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–James Forrester played the best game of his young MPBL career as he powered Davao Occidental past Bacolod, 85-74, Saturday for its third straight win in the Lakan Season at Cuneta Astrodome.

The former PBA first round pick, who was signed at the start of the season by the South division kings, delivered 16 points for the Tigers, who scored the game’s first nine points on their way to another wire-to-wire victory that jacked up their record to 5-1.

Mark Yee and Marco Balagtas also tallied 16 points and Billy Robles had 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Tigers finished with a flourish after Bacolod came within eight points late in the game.

Bacolod, one of six expansion teams this season, lost for the second straight game and dropped to 2-4 in the South division. JP Cauilan produced a career-best 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, but it wasn’t enough as Bacolod struggled to match Davao’s firepower.