A FINE start should not be a reason for defending two-time champion EcoOil-La Salle to look past Centro Escolar University.
“It will be harder and harder against every team,” Green Archers assistant coach Caloy Garcia said. “We still have to learn how to play better basketball despite our two wins.”
Whether Garcia’s charges would heed his call will be known when they take on the debuting Scorpions today as the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup resumes at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 7:30 p.m., with EcoOil-La Salle seeking a third straight win against a CEU side raring to continue its winning ways from back-to-back title triumphs in the Universities and Colleges Athletic League.
In the first game, Keanzel Basketball (0-1) and CCI-Yengskivel (0-1) battle for a breakthrough win at 4:30 p.m. after absorbing lopsided defeats in their debuts.
Keanzel fell to Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda 59-109 last March 18, while CCI-Yengskivel absorbed a 68-110 drubbing at the hands of the Archers four days later.
With tactician Jeff Perlas calling the shots, the Scorpions needed to complete a 2-0 sweep of Diliman College first in the UCAL last month that derailed its D-League stint.
Against no less than EcoOil-La Salle this time in the tougher tilt, CEU will have its hands full.
But not for the wary Archers as they brace for strong resistance from the very capable UCAL powerhouse– regardless of their 34.5-point winning margin.
Despite not having reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao on its side, EcoOil-La Salle blasted Go Torakku-St. Clare 90-63 last March 18 behind the exploits of Jonnel Policarpio, CJ Austria, Michael Philips, Raven Cortez, and Earl Abadam.
The top two teams after the eliminations will gain outright berths in the semifinals of the season-opening tourney.
