STUNG the last time out, EcoOil-La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren took his charges to task and challenged them to play like grown men against a gritty Wangs Basketball@26-Letran five yesterday.
Heeding Pumaren’s urgings, the Green Archers humbled the Knights 94-87 to get back on track in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Jan Macalalag showed the way for EcoOil-La Salle with 18 points and six rebounds, while prized center Kevin Quiambao, who debuted for the team after a stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup last week, promptly made a big impact with 15 markers, 10 boards, and seven assists.
Penny Estacio also had 14 points, two caroms, and four dimes, while Michael Phillips and Joaqui Manuel added 13 and 11, respectively, for the Archers, who redeemed themselves from a stunning 51-73 setback at the hands of Apex Fuel-San Sebastian College six days ago and rose to 3-2.
Wang Basketball@26-Letran, coming off a 70-64 triumph over Marinerong Pilipino last July 15, absorbed its first loss in four matches.
In the first game, Marinerong Pilipino crushed AMA Online 87-49 for its second straight win and clinched a playoffs berth.
Juan Gomez de Liaño shone for the Skippers with game-bests 31 points and 16 rebounds, while Toby Agustin added 15 markers and six caroms.
Brian Lacap also had 11 points for Marinerong Pilipino, which scored a big follow-up to its 76-71 decision over Adalem Construction-St. Clare last Tuesday and hiked its mark to 4-1.
The Skippers’ 38-point shellacking of the Kings also kept AMA Online winless in five games, counting a similarly lopsided 53-93 defeat at the hands of Apex Fuel-San Sebastian also last Tuesday.
“This is why we’re here — for the young guys to get the exposure, to toughen up. We cannot play like boys. This is a man’s league so we gotta step up and be a man out there.
There are mistakes, but that’s part of growing pains for us,” Pumaren said.
“But we cannot afford to commit a lot of turnovers, which is what we did when we lost to San Sebastian. Things that we’re not supposed to do, like giving up easy baskets, that’s what we were able to do with Letran,” he added.
EcoOil-La Salle took a 42-38 buffer at the half, but the Knights battled back and led 62-61 heading into the final stanza.
