DEFENDING champion EcoOil-La Salle is out to launch its title-retention bid on a high against an equally determined Centro Escolar University side.
Whether the Green Archers can get the job done will be known when they tangle with the Scorpions today in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup that gets going at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 4 p.m. after newcomer Philippine Sports Performance takes on Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University in the tiff kicking off the developmental meet’s new conference at 2 o’clock.
La Salle will go into battle without new coach Topex Robinson, who is set to go to the United States. Assistant coach Gian Nazario will call the shots for the Archers.
“I will not be around for our game against CEU, but we will always compete,” said Robinson, who returned to the collegiate and amateur ranks after steering Zark’s Burger-Lyceum to the crown in the same edition of the tourney five years ago.
The Taft-based five will pin its hopes on Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy along with Gilas Pilipinas training pool members Kevin Quiambao, and Michael and Ben Phillips, who led La Salle’s title triumph last year under former strategist Derrick Pumaren.
CEU is coming off a historic feat in the UCBL by scoring the league’s first-ever title sweep with a 14-0 mark.
Tactician Jeff Perlas, a former deputy of Robinson at the Pirates camp, will bank on Jerome Santos and Franz Ray Diaz.
“We still have a new team with the graduation and transfer of many players. We’re hoping the other guys will step up,” Red Lions coach Yuri Escueta said.
“Our goal is to compete every game, continue to strengthen our system and apply it in games to prepare us for the upcoming NCAA season.”
