La Salle returns to PBA D-League finals after ousting Perpetual
EcoOil-La Salle earned another trip to the Finals of the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
The defending champions got the job done by routing the Perpetual Help, 108-91, in Game 2 on Tuesday to complete a sweep of the best-of-three semifinal series at Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
The Archers raced to a 28-13 advantage early on and never gave their overmatched opponent any chance to recover.
La Salle will face the winner of the other semifinal series between Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran and Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda in a best-of-three finale.
Prince Ray Alao fired 12 of his 22 points in the first half as Green Archers stretched the lead to 51-36.
JC Macalalag, stepping up in the absence of the injured starting guard Evan Nelle, scored 11 points while Kevin Quiambao, Bright Nwankwo and EJ Gollena chipped in 10 apiece.
“This is a venue to show and apply what we’re learning. We’re happy with what we showed during the playoffs but we’re not contented yet,” said deputy coach Gian Nazario.
Perpetual, which finished the eliminations at No. 3, never recovered from its sluggish start.
John Abis led the Altas with 21 points top gun Cyrus Nitura misfired and bled for only four points.
The Scores:
EcoOil-La Salle 108 – Alao 22, Macalalag 11, Quiambao 10, Gollena 10, Nwankwo 10, Austria 9, B. Phillips 9, M. Phillips 8, Nonoy 7, Cortez 5, Escandor 3, Manuel 2, Abadam 2, David 0.
Perpetual 91 – Abis 21, Pagaran 19, Ferreras 19, Razon 11, Ramirez 8, Roque 5, Nitura 4, Sevilla 2, Boral 2, Barcuma 0.
Quarterscores: 30-17, 51-36, 86-59, 108-91.