Eco Oil-La Salle opened its three-peat bid with an emphatic 110-68 win over neophyte CCI-Yengskivel in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup opener Thursday night, March 14, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Jonnel Policarpio tallied a near triple-double of 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting, 10 rebounds and seven assists in 21 minutes to lead the way for the defending champion Green Archers.
In the other game, Jomel Puno, Yukien Andrada and Bryan Sajonia tallied 12 points apiece and Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda pulled away past Go Torrakku-St. Clare College, 92-59.
La Salle played without reigning D-League and UAAP MVP Quiambao but it hardly mattered as Aaron Buensalida, EJ Gollena and CJ Austria responded to the challenge. The trio combined for 45 points.
Quiambao will not suit up for the tournament due to his hectic schedule as member of the Gilas Pilipinas.
La Salle also got seven points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks from team captain Mike Phillips while new guys Vhoris Marasigan and Henry Agunanne tallied eight each.
“I told the players before the start of the game that this is the first major tournament for us after winning the championship in the UAAP. This is gonna be something new to us,” said deputy mentor Caloy Garcia.
The two teams were tied at 9-all when the Green Archers went on a 20-7 run to pull away and practically took the fight from the Crusaders.
It was also a walk in the park for the Red Lions.
They blew the game wide open in the second quarter by outscoring their opponents, 22-6 to open their campaign with a bang.
Go Torrakku- St. Clare trailed by just 14-19 after one quarter but was held to 3 of 16 field goal shooting and committed seven turnovers in the second quarter. It never recovered.
Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda led by as many as 43 points, 79-36.
The Scores:
First Game
Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda 92 – Sajonia 12, Puno 12, Andrada 12, Tagle 11, Estacio 8, Payosing 8, Etulle 5, Jalbuena 4, Gonzales 4, Celzo 4, Royo 4, Calimag 3, Tagala 2, Songcuya 2, Lopez 1.
Go Torrakku-St. Clare 59 – Ndong 14, Burgos 9, Decano 9, Tapenio 7, Cabauatan 6, Sual 6, Estacio 4, Lopez 2, Rojas 2, Galang 0, Peñaga 0, Balacaoc 0, Yu 0, Dumancas 0, Angeles 0.
Quarterscores: 19-14, 41-20, 79-36, 92-59.
Second Game
EcoOil-La Salle 110 – Policarpio 22, Buensalida 16, Gollena 15, Austria 14, Maraisgan 8, Agunanne 8, Abadam 7, Phillips 7, Gaspay 4, Alian 4, David 3, Daja 2, Rubico 0.
CCI-Yengskivel 68 – Tener 11, Buenaflor 9, Nuarin 8, Galvez 6, De Guzman 6, Esguerra 5, Dela Cruz 5, Manipolo 4, Talagtag 4, Verdadero 3, Jawili 3, Palma 2, Guray 2, Dever 0, Puzon 0.
Quarterscores: 29-16, 59-31, 93-54, 110-68.
