PBA D-League: CEU Scorpions face former coach

By Jonas Terrado

Games Monday
(Paco Arena, Manila)
1 p.m. — Diliman vs Builders-UST
3 p.m. — Mapua vs Marinero
5 p.m. — EcoOil-La Salle vs Karate Kid-CEU

Coach Derrick Pumaren faces his former team for the first time as EcoOil-La Salle and Karate Kid-Centro Escolar University square off in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Paco Arena in Manila.

The Green Archers take on the Scorpions at 5 p.m. for a chance to get their second win and gain at least the share of the early lead in the first conference of the PBA’s developmental competition.

Builders Warehouse-University of Santo Tomas meets Diliman College at 1 p.m. and Marinerong Pilipino tackles ADG Dong-Mapua University at 3 p.m. as both teams shoot for their second victory.

Pumaren had a successful run coaching CEU from 2018 to 2019, leading the school to the NCRAA championship while also steering a squad reduced to seven players to the Finals of last year’s PBA D-League First Conference.

“It’s like family playing against family, so it will be exciting,” said Pumaren, who was hired to coach La Salle for the second time in early-January.

EcoOil-La Salle opened its D-League campaign last week by defeating Wangs-Letran 102-90 behind Encho Serrano, Justine Baltazar, Aljun Melecio and Senegalese center Amadou Ndiaye, who hopes to avoid foul trouble this time.

Karate Kid-CEU, now under the tutelage of Jeff Napa, opened the tourney on the wrong foot, falling 93-57 to Marinerong Pilipino also a week ago.

Napa is hoping the Scorpions will make up for their anemic showing and put themselves on the winning column.

Meanwhile, Builders Warehouse-UST is coming off a 115-62 win over Technological Institute of the Philippines behind 23 three-pointers while brothers Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano are expected to lead Marinero’s quest to produce a follow-up of its opening day romp.

Source: Manila Bulletin