Reigning champion EcoOil-La Salle and PSP Gymers shoot for their second straight wins against separate counterparts in a bid to maintain early leadership in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup on Tuesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
La Salle (1-0) tangles with Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda (0-1) in the main act at 4 p.m., following the 2 p.m. tussle between PSP and the debuting University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.
The Green Archers opened their title-retention bid with an easy win over Centro Escolar U, 84-62, but will be facing a tall order against the Red Lions without the services of brothers Mike and Ben Phillips.
The Phillips siblings are part of the Gilas Pilipinas training pool currently in Calamba, Laguna for a closed-door, intensive training camp in preparation for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
La Salle, however, vowed to be ready against the odds even with a crippled crew.
“We’ll be shorthanded but we will come prepared,” said deputy mentor Gian Nazaro, who’s taking over for new head coach Topex Robinson, who is currently in the United States.
“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.”
PSP, on the other hand, wants no let-up against another established collegiate program in Perpetual after a debut to remember versus San Beda with a 94-92 come-from-behind win last Thursday.
“Kailangan kalimutan na namin ‘yung debut namin. Kailangan handa kami vs Perpetual. Kailangan gutom kami palagi. Kumpyansa pero dapat hindi kampante,” said coach John Paolo Lao, who’s getting a lift from his assistant coaches in PBA cagers CJ Perez, Jericho Cruz and Jackson Corpuz.
Skipper Val Acuña headlines PSP along with Jayvee Dela Cruz, Dariel James Bayla and Ian Jay Yutuc, who delivered the go-ahead basket in the clutch to cap their comeback from 10 points down in the fourth quarter.
Games Tuesday
2 p.m. – University of Perpetual Help System Dalta vs PSP Gymers
4 p.m. – Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda vs EcoOil-La Salle