La Salle holds off Marinerong Pilipino to claim PBA D-League crown

EcoOil-De La Salle University wasted a huge lead but recovered just in time to clinch a 91-78 victory over Marinerong Pilipino and emerge as the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup champion on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers-bannered team turned a 51-36 halftime lead to a comfortable 74-53 cushion late in the third frame after a Mark Nonoy jumper with 57 seconds left. The quarter ended with EcoOil still up by 17, 74-57, heading to the payoff period.

It didn't help Marinerong Pilipino's cause as well that sniper Jollo Go was ejected from the game early in the third after throwing a punch at EcoOil's Benjamin Phillips in the 8:53 mark of the period.

Go finished with just two points, one rebound, and one assist.

But Marinerong Pilipino staged a surge in the fourth quarter as JJ Manlangit completed a three-point play to cut their deficit to nine, 77-68, with 5:38 left to play.

CJ Austria then led a 14-10 closing run to fend off Marinerong Pilipino, which was represented mostly by Mapua University cagers as La Salle came back from Game 1 loss to bag the title.

Deschon Winston and Evan Nelle led La Salle with 16 and 13 points apiece, with 10 of their respective overall output coming in during the first half.

Michael Phillips was again effective on both ends, churning out 15 markers and 16 rebounds to go with three assists and three steals.

EcoOil spoiled MVP Juan Gomez De Liano's 30-point outburst that went alongside six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. The Cardinals' Rence Nocum finished with 18 markers and seven boards in the loss.

The scores:

ECOOIL-LA SALLE 91 -- Winston 16, M. Phillips 15, Nonoy 15, Nelle 13, Austria 8, Manuel 7, Quiambao 6, Nwankwo 6, B. Phillips 5, Macalalag 0.

MARINERONG PILIPINO 78 -- Gomez de Liano 30, Nocum 18, Gamboa 12, Soberano 7, Manlangit 5, Carino 2, Go 2, Pido 2, Bonifacio 0, Bonsubre 0, Agustin 0.

Quarters: 25-19, 51-36, 74-57, 91-78.

—JMB, GMA News