DEFENDING champion EcoOil-La Salle passed its initial test with flying colors but the charges of assistant coach Gian Nazario are expected to have their hands full against a Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University side.
The Green Archers seek a second straight win when they take on the Red Lions today in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The match is set at 4 p.m. after newcomer Philippine Sports Performance also guns for a second victory in a row when it battles debuting Perpetual Help in the curtain-raiser at 2 o’clock.
EcoOil-La Salle will go into the tiff armed with an 84-62 demolition of Centro Escolar University last Thursday.
But the Archers will have to make do without brothers Michael and Benjamin Phillips, who are part of the Gilas Pilipinas training pool currently toughening up at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba before the team flies to Cambodia on Saturday for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
“We’ll be shorthanded, but we will come prepared,” said Nazaro, who is calling the shots for the Archers in lieu of coach Topex Robinson, who is in the United States for a scouting trip.
“We know that San Beda can play. Alam namin ‘yung potential ng San Beda and we have a lot of respect for coach Yuri (Escueta) and his staff. We’re really gonna prepare for them.”
EcoOil-La Salle will count on Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy and Kevin Quiambao.
San Beda is raring to atone for a 92-94 loss to the Gymers also last Thursday.
“Kailangang kalimutan na naming iyong debut namin. Kailangan handa kami versus Perpetual,” said PSP tactician John Paolo Lao, who’s getting a big boost from assistant coaches in PBA cagers CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz, and Jackson Corpuz.
