DIFFERENT season, same result.
While assistant coach Gian Nazario of defending champion EcoOil-La Salle kept downplaying his charges’ success, the Green Archers were on target, if not nearly untouchable, capped by an emphatic triumph against Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University Red Lions anew yesterday.
With tournament MVP Kevin Quiambao showing the way, La Salle turned back San Beda 89-74 to bag its second straight PBA D-League Aspirants’ crown before a good-sized crowd at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The 6-foot-8 Quiambao had a game-high 26 points that he laced with 10 rebounds and two assists while Evan Nelle chipped in 16 markers, five boards, and seven dimes.
Mark Nonoy and Mike Phillips also had 14 and 12 points, respectively, for La Salle, which wrapped up the title via a 2-0 sweep.
The Archers made short work of the Lions 108-82 in the opening match of the Big Dance five days ago.
It was déjí vu in the second game– except La Salle met some resistance from San Beda early on– something Nazario said they needed to overcome.
“We’re just really happy with how these guys performed throughout the tournament. Iyong core namin (from last championship), nandito pa rin naman but what’s big here is the maturity of the guys,” Nazario said. “We expected a San Beda fightback. We told the team we cannot skip steps.
“Hindi dapat namin isipin na champion kaagad. Most were expecting a blowout, but we did not. We needed 40 minutes and we’re happy that the boys responded,” he added.
The Taft-based crew took a 43-42 cushion at the halfway mark and pushed it to 70-58 heading into the final stanza.
A Nonoy triple padded the Archers’ lead to as much as 88-69 with 1:13 to go.
Yukien Andrada carried the fight for the Lions with 15 points, five caroms, and three feeds.
Damie Cuntapay and James Payosing also combined for 24 markers for San Beda.
“Thankful na ako iyong MVP pero credit sa teammates ko at sa buong coaching staff namin dahil nakuha rin namin iyong championship,” Quiambao said. “Iyon naman talaga ang goal namin. We’re grateful.”
Quiambao was the runaway choice in the MVP derby after he tallied 419 statistical points.
Wangs Basketball @27-Letran skipper Kurt Reyson was a far second with 249 SPs.
The Lions’ Jacob Cortez finished third with 225 SPs, while Perpetual Help’s Cyrus Nitura wound up fourth with 107 SPs.
