EcoOil-La Salle earned another trip to the Finals of the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
The defending champions got the job done by routing the University of Perpetual Help System Delta, 108-91, in Game 2 on Tuesday to complete a sweep in the best-of-three semifinal series at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
Determined and motivated, the Archers raced to a 28-13 advantage early on and never gave their overmatched opponent any chance to recover.
La Salle will face the winner of the other semifinal series between Wangs Basketball@27 Strikers-Letran and Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda in a best-of-three finale.
Prince Ray Alao fired 12 of his 22 points in the first half as Green Archers stretched the lead, 51-36.
JC Macalalag, stepping up in the absence of the injured starting guard Evan Nelle, scored 11 points while Kevin Quiambao, Bright Nwankwo and EJ Gollena chipped in 10 apiece during that back breaking attack.
“This is a venue to show and apply what we’re learning. We’re happy with what we have shown in the playoffs, but we’re not yet satisfied,” deputy coach Gian Nazario said.
Perpetual, which finished the eliminations at No. 3, never recovered from its sluggish start and with it went whatever chance they had of evening the series.
John Abis led the Altas with 21 points, top gun Cyrus Nitura misfired and bled for only four points.
The Scores:
La Salle (108) — Alao 22, Macalalag 11, Quiambao 10, Gollena 10, Nwankwo 10, Austria 9, B. Phillips 9, M. Phillips 8, Nonoy 7, Cortez 5, Escandor 3, Manuel 2, Abadam 2, David 0.
Perpetual (91) — Abis 21, Pagaran 19, Ferreras 19, Razon 11, Ramirez 8, Roque 5, Nitura 4, Sevilla 2, Boral 2, Barcuma 0.
QUARTERS: 30-17, 51-36, 86-59, 108-91.
