Davao Occidental Tigers
LeagueMPBL (2018–2021, 2024–present)
Filbasket (2021)
PSL (2021–present)
Founded2018 (2018)
HistoryDavao Occidental Tigers (2018–present)
ArenaUniversity of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium & Cultural Center
RMC–Petro Gazz Arena
Davao City Recreation Center
RDR Gymnasium
LocationDavao Occidental
Davao City, Davao del Sur
Tagum City, Davao del Norte
Team colors     
Main sponsorUnited Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation
ChampionshipsMPBL: 1 (2021)
PSL: 1 (2022)
Conference titlesMPBL: 2 (2019, 2020–21)

Davao Occidental Tigers, also known as Davao Occidental Tigers – Cocolife due to sponsorship reasons, are a Filipino professional basketball team based in Davao Occidental. It was founded as an expansion team of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) for the 2018–19 MPBL season.[1][2] Following their title in the 2021 MPBL Finals, they moved to the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) and became one of its founding members.

The team reached the MPBL Finals in 2019 and 2021, both against San Juan, winning the latter. In the PSL, they reached the Finals in 2022 and 2023, winning the former.

Despite being based in Davao Occidental, the team hasn't played any home games within the province. Instead, the team plays in arenas across Davao Region, more specifically the Metro Davao area.

History

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

Davao Occidental Tigers were established in 2018 as an expansion team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League. The Tigers were one of three teams to be based in Mindanao at the time, alongside General Santos and Zamboanga. The team led by Mark Yee saw immediate success, clinching the South Division's top seed with a 20–5 record.

In the playoffs, Tigers swept Cebu City in the First Round, as well as Bacoor City in the Division Semifinals. In the South Division Finals, they met the defending champion Batangas City Athletics. Although Batangas City forced a game 3 in overtime, the series was won by Davao Occidental and they faced San Juan Knights in the 2019 MPBL Finals. The series went back-and-forth with both teams alternating wins, all coming down to a winner-take-all game in Davao City. Tigers led by three points heading into the last minute, however, Jhonard Clarito scored four consecutive points for San Juan as Davao Occidental lost the game and the series by a single point.

Looking to come back after a stunning finals loss, Davao Occidental kept the same core heading into the 2019–20 season. Once again the team clinched the top seed in the South Division with a record of 26–4. This made Davao Occidental Tigers the first, and currently only, MPBL team to clinch the best division record in back-to-back seasons.

To begin their 2020 playoff campaign, Tigers first beat Bicol in three games. They then met Zamboanga in the Division Semifinals, with the first game ending up as the lowest-scoring in the MPBL history. Davao Occidental then matched up with Basilan in the South Division Finals. With the series tied 1–1, it saw an abrupt ending following the suspension of the playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. When the playoffs continued the following year, multiple Basilan members were tested positive for the virus, thus the series was awarded to Davao Occidental, creating a Finals rematch against San Juan. Davao Occidental got their revenge and won the series in four games, thus winning their first league championship in franchise history.

FilBasket

Following their MPBL championship run, Davao Occidental Tigers took part in the inaugural tournament of FilBasket, the 2021 Subic Championship.[3] The team clinched second place in the elimination round with a 7–3 record. After winning against Burlington EOG in the quarterfinals, Tigers experienced déjà vu when they lost to San Juan in the semifinals by a single point.

Pilipinas Super League

In 2021, the team became a founding member of the Pilipinas Super League, formally moving from the MPBL. Much like their MPBL debut, the lead the PSL with the best record in the 2022 Pearl of the Orient Cup, finishing 13–1.[4] The team then swept both Basilan and Cagayan de Oro on their way to the first PSL championship. In the following 2022–23 DUMPER Cup, Davao Occidental remained among the best teams with the second-best record of the elimination round. The team did suffer losses against Boracay and the Pampanga Royce, before ultimately meeting the Pampanga G Lanterns led by Justine Baltazar. Davao Occidental ended up getting swept as the Lanterns won their first league championship.

Scheduled ASEAN Basketball League participation

In January 2022, Tigers secured to participation in the ASEAN Basketball League.[5] Unfortunately, the 2022 season was cancelled due to the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia.

2022 roster

PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
F 2 Philippines Cruz, Jervy 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1986–09–09 UST
F/C 4 Philippines Apreku, Felix 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1991–12–06 Letran
F/C 5 Philippines Rodriguez, Larry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1983–05–05 PMI
G 6 Philippines Dagangon, Gab 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 1992–09–07 UPHSD
G 7 Philippines Jimenez, Kyt 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) UPHSD
F 8 Philippines Celiz, Robby 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1988–09–07 National-U
G 10 Philippines Subido, Renzo 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 135 lb (61 kg) 1996–02–17 UST
G 11 Philippines Wilson, John 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1987–01–18 José Rizal
G 13 Philippines Custodio, Bonbon 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1982–11–30 UE
G/F 17 Philippines Agovida, Keith 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1990–02–14 Arellano
G 19 Philippines Calo, Emanuel 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1989–12–27 Visayas
G 29 Philippines Abundo, Alvin 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1992–10–29 Centro Escolar
Head coach
  • Philippines Jesse James Bartolome
Assistant coach(es)
  • Philippines Don Dulay
Team manager
  • TBA

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Head coaches

Davao Occidental Tigers head coaches
2018–present
# Name Start End Regular season Playoffs Best finish Achievements
GC W L Win% GC W L Win%
1 Don Dulay 2018 25 20 5 .800 12 8 4 .667 Runner-up

Season-by-season records

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2018–19
Datu Cup
Davao Occidental TigersSouth1st/13205.800First Round
Division Semifinals
Division Finals
National Finals
won vs. Cebu City, 2–0
won vs. Bacoor City, 2–0
won vs. Batangas City, 2–1
lost vs. San Juan, 2–3
2019–20
Lakan Cup
1st/15264.867First Round
Division Semifinals
Division Finals
National Finals
won vs. Bicol, 2–1
won vs. Zamboanga, 2–0
won vs. Basilan, 2–1
won vs. San Juan, 3–1
Total elimination round469.8362 playoff appearances
Total playoffs177.7082 Finals appearances
Total franchise6316.7971 championship

Pilipinas Super League

SeasonTeam nameElimination roundPlayoffs
DivisionFinishWLPCTStageResults
2022
Pearl of the Orient Cup
Davao Occidental TigersNone1st/8131.929Semifinals
Finals
won vs. Basilan, 2–0
won vs. Cagayan de Oro, 2–0
2022–23
DUMPER Cup
2nd/16123.800Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
won vs. Boracay, 2–1
won vs. Pampanga Royce, 2–1
lost vs. Pampanga G Lanterns, 0–2
2023–24
President's Cup
Currently ongoing
Total elimination round254.8622 playoff appearances
Total playoffs74.6362 Finals appearances
Total328.8001 championship

References

  1. Joble, Rey. "Davao Occidental first MPBL southern team to sign as expansion club". FoxSports. Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  2. Develos, Jon (May 17, 2018). "Davao Occidental Tigers gears up for 2nd MPBL season". Mindanao Times. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  3. Terrado, Reuben (July 26, 2021). "Reigning MPBL champion Davao Occidental to join FilBasket". Sports Interactive Network. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  4. "Davao Occidental leaves MPBL, named founding member of PSL". Tiebreaker Times. December 27, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  5. Li, Matthew (January 19, 2022). "Davao Tigers get franchise in ABL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
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