La Salle sweeps San Beda to complete PBA D-League title repeat

Reigning champion EcoOil-La Salle ripped Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University in Game 2, 89-74, to cop the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup title on Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena.

La Salle has now completed back-to-back championships as they also ruled the 2022 edition against Marinerong Pilipino, which was then bannered by the core of Mapua University.

JV Gallego caught fire in the second period, dropping all of his nine points to fuel a 12-4 run and erase an 11-point deficit as the Red Lions ended the first half trailing by just one, 43-42.

But newly-minted Conference MVP Kevin Quiambao lived up to his name as he dropped eight of his points in the third period, where the Green Archers pulled away and built another double-digit lead, 70-58, before heading to the fourth.

La Salle was able to do that despite seeing two Archers in Joaqui Manuel and Evan Nelle down with injuries. Nelle, though, returned to the court in the payoff period to boost their offense.

Quimbao's triple halfway through sent La Salle to an 80-64 cushion before Michael Phillips' two-handed slam off a Nelle dime put the punctuation for the Taft crew.

Quiambao finished with a double-double 26 points and 10 rebounds alongside two assists and one steal while Nelle churned out all-around statline with 16 markers, seven dimes, five boards, six steals, and one block.

Mark Nonoy had 14 points and three rebounds while Phillips chipped in 12 markers.

Yukien Andrada led Marinerong Pilipino with 15 points off the bench while Damie Cuntapay and James Payosing each chimed in with 12 markers.

The win allowed La Salle to gain some revenge as its only loss in the elimination round came at the hands of San Beda.

The scores:

EcoOil-La Salle 89 – Quiambao 26, Nelle 16, Nonoy 14, Phillips M. 12, Escandor 6, Austria 6, Gollena 4, David 4, Phillips B. 1, Nwankwo 0, Manuel 0, Cortez 0. Marinero-

Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda 74 – Andrada 15, Payosing 12, Cuntapay 12, Gallego 9, Cortez 8, Alfaro 8, Puno 4, Royo 2, Tagle 2, Visser 2, Jopia 0, Alloso 0.

Quarters: 27-20, 43-42, 70-58, 89-74.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News