Nothing is sweeter than winning a championship on home court.
That's what the Davao Occidental Tigers aims to achieve on Monday evening, April 25, when it clashes against the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Higalas in Game 2 of their Cocolife Pilipinas Super League best-of-three championship at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gym in Davao City. Admission is free.
It's an exciting time not just for basketball fans but also for sports enthusiasts in Davao region, as it is the first time that a tournament in such magnitude is being staged in this part of the country since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.
The excitement is doubled though for Dabawenyo coach Arvin Bonleon who will be calling the shots for the Tigers after being an assistant coach of the team for quite sometime.
"Syempre, feeling excited. Iniimbitahan ko lahat ng mga taga Davao region na manood kayo. Laban natin lahat ito. All out ang Davao Occidental Tigers na manalo sa harap ninyo (Of course, I'm excited. I am inviting people from Davao region to watch. This is our fight. The Davao Occidental Tigers is all out to win before your presence)," coach Arvin told Time Out in a Messenger interview on Sunday, April 24.
He said it will be a mission of redemption of sort for the Tigers, having lost a championship on home court before.
The Tigers' finals appearance is also the first time with a Davao homegrown coach at the helm, making it extra special.
Coach Arvin said that they will try to control the game. Being the bigger team than the Higalas, the more experienced Tigers already have their defense plays in place.
He said, "Hindi kami sasabay sa kanila (We will not play their kind of game). They're small and they like to run, but we are ready for that."
The Davao Occidental Tigers crushed the CDO Higalas, 95-59, in Game 1 of their best-of-three championship series at the Manuel Roxas Sports Complex on April 22, 2022.
But Coach Arvin maintained that the Higalas are no pushovers so they can't be complacent.
He only urged his players to "play hard, play smart, play together, and win together." Very well said. Basketball, after all, is not a one-man's game.
Meanwhile, he explained that Tigers fans need not worry if not all reinforcements (ex-PBA or Luzon players) are fielded together since they have to adhere to the rules of having only two reinforcements, two Visayas-Mindanao players, and one Davao-born cager playing together in a quarter.
Will the Tigers roar their way to victory at home court this time?
We will see on Monday night. Game time is at 7 p.m.