REIGNING two-time champion EcoOil-La Salle refused to lift its feet off the pedal despite facing an undermanned Centro Escolar University side last Monday night.
As a result, the Green Archers moved within a win of a perfect campaign–and a third straight title.
“CEU was riding on a lot of momentum. Beating San Beda is such a huge achievement for their program,” EcoOil-La Salle assistant coach Gian Nazario said.
“So, I told the players that CEU will be coming out with a lot of confidence with or without Olusesi (Abdul-Wahab),” he added, referring to the prized Scorpions’ big man who sat out the match due to a sprained left knee injury.
Nazario, given the reins by Archers’ coach Topex Robinson to call the shots for the squad in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, spoke after his charges mowed down CEU 98-72 in Game 1 of their best-of-3 finals duel.
The runaway triumph, its eighth in as many games, gave the Taft-based five a chance to wrap up the race-to-2 series in Game 2 tomorrow at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Henry Agunanne and Jonnel Policarpio notched 17 points each for EcoOil-La Salle, while JC Macalalag added 13 markers and three steals.
Raven Cortez and EJ Gollena also had 10 apiece for the Archers.
If EcoOil-La Salle repeats over CEU, it will be a hat-trick that would make the franchise the second winningest in the developmental league.
NLEX had won six crowns, including four consecutive diadems from 2011 to 2013.
Nazario pointed to their preparation as one of the keys in the Big Dance opener.
“We have to be prepared against them,” he said. “I think from the start, iyon ang nagawa namin.”
At the half, the Archers were already miles ahead with an imposing 54-28 gap and led by as many as 39 points (89-50) midway through the payoff period.
