EcoOil La Salle kept their hot streak and flawless record alive in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup as they took down the CEU Scorpions, 89-61, earlier tonight, April 2, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Jonnel Policarpio led the way for the Green-and-White as he tallied 18 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Meanwhile, Henry Agunanne and Mike Phillips made their presence known by putting up 13 and nine points, respectively.
For the CEU Scorpions, Jayson Puray tried his best to give his team a fighting chance with 12 points, with Justin Guevarra and Daniel Marcelo tallying 10 and nine points, respectively.
Eye-opening half
EcoOil La Salle came out the gates to show off their high-level quality and experience against the CEU Scorpions. DLSU saw the advantage inside the paint cemented their presence as they fed the ball to Phillips and Agunanne for early baskets, 7-0. However, the Green Archers saw their momentum halted as the Scorpions found a way to limit the Green Archers’ offensive plays and forced a number of turnovers from the green shirts as La Salle trailed by seven points to end the first quarter, 21-14.
After an early setback, the Taft-based squad looked for a glimmer of hope; Policarpio answered the call, hitting two three-pointers and making two free throws to cut the Scorpions’ lead to one, 23-22. Inspired by Policarpio’s hot hand, DLSU showed better rhythm as their ball movement improved, allowing multiple Green Archers a chance inside the paint and attempting to draw fouls for trips to the free throw line to take the lead, 33-32. However, the Green-and-White found their opponents to be constantly persistent despite their second-quarter run as the Scorpions found a burst of energy late to end the first half in a tie, 36-all.
Proving their champion status
Coming from a shaky first half ending in a tie, the Green Archers came back on the hardwood court with a stronger mindset. After the first two minutes of the quarter, EJ Gollena rewarded EcoOil La Salle with their first point. This ignited the spark within the team, slowly but surely building momentum. After a foul from CEU, CJ Austria was granted two free throws, both of which were successful, which gave DLSU a three-point cushion, 41-38.
EcoOil La Salle seemingly learned how to play the game against the CEU Scorpions at this point, finally building a steady momentum. Vhoris Marasigan showcased his skills on the court, earning two straight numbers for his team, La Salle now holding onto a 10-point lead, 59-49. It was Policarpio who ended the third quarter with a quick shot, 61-49.
Gaining a much-needed boost from the last quarter, the Green Archers felt more confident than ever. The first few minutes of the final quarter was a Policarpio rampage as he scored five straight points for his team, 66-49. Macalalag also showed up during this quarter, 68-49, which unleashed cheers heard throughout the arena. The Green-and-White showcased their championship prowess and spearheaded the game against the Scorpions. A three-pointer by Raven Cortez widened the gap from the scoreboards, and La Salle grasped a 22-point lead.
The last few minutes of the game was an Earl Abadam highlight, with the athlete scoring multiple consecutive markers for the Green Archers—three-pointers and one clean layup. The game concluded with a shot by Aaron Buensalida, cutting the scoreboards at 89-61, the UAAP Season 86 Champions remaining undefeated in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup.
This marked EcoOil La Salle’s third-straight win as they aim for an undefeated status in the tournament. The Green-and-White will face the Keanzel Basketball Team on Thursday, April 11, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 89 – Policarpio 18, Agunanne 13, Phillips 9, Abadam 8, Macalalag 7, Cortez 7, Austria 7, Gollena 7, Marasigan 5, Rubico 4, Buensalida 2, Daja 2, David 0, Gaspay 0, Alian 0
CEU 61 – Puray 12, Guevarra 10, Marcelo 9, Santos 7, Malicana 7, Gamboa 5, Bernabe 4, Clusesi 3, Mendoza 2, Serrano 2, De Guzman 0, Benitez 0
Quarter Scores: 14-21, 36-36, 61-49, 89-61
