DEFENDING champion EcoOil-La Salle refused to lie down and die against gritty Perpetual Help and was rewarded with handsome dividends yesterday.
Charging back from an early 12-point deficit, the Green Archers turned back the Altas 80-73 for a share of the lead in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Kevin Quiambao wound up with 15 points and 12 rebounds for EcoOil-La Salle, while Francis Escandor added 15 markers.
CJ Austria and Mark Nonoy also combine for 27 points as the Archers hardly missed the services of Mike and Ben Phillips, as well as Evan Nelle.
The Phillips brothers are fulfilling their Gilas Pilipinas duties in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, while Nelle is nursing a groin strain.
The win powered EcoOil-La Salle to a 3-1 mark in a tie with Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University.
Perpetual slipped to 2-2.
“We know that we’re gonna struggle against a tough Perpetual team that’s been playing well here and in their other tournaments,” Archers assistant coach Gian Nazario said. “Good thing, we’re able to figure things out defensively.
“We’re just starting, we’re learning. We’re on that learning curve of figuring things out. We’ll have struggles and mas gusto namin iyon,” he added.
In the other game, Centro Escolar University downed Wangs Basketball @27 Striker-Letran 92-85 in overtime for its second victory in a row.
Ron Rei Tolentino scored 10 of the Scorpions’ 16 points in OT highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers that kept the Knights winless in two matches under new coach Rensy Bajar.
