By Jonas Terrado
EcoOil-La Salle overcame the determined challenge of Karate Kid-Centro Escolar University to prevail 79-73 in coach Derrick Pumaren’s first game against his former team Monday in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Paco Arena in Manila.
EcoOil-La Salle’s Justine Baltazar hauls down the rebound. (PBA Images)
Justine Baltazar scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as La Salle held off CEU’s uprising in the second half to forge a three-way tie for the early lead with Builders Warehouse-University of Santo Tomas and Marinerong Pilipino with identical 2-0 slates.
But Pumaren was far satisfied with the result, lamenting on individualistic plays by his team.
“I’m quite disappointed with the way we played,” said Pumaren. “There’s a lot of being selfish and just looking for their points, instead of running the plays what we’re supposed to run.”
Encho Serrano scored 18 points for the Green Archers while Senegalese center Amadou Ndiaye had 10 points and 16 rebounds but fouled out for the second straight game.
Justin Arana made 13 points while Dave Bernabe had 10 points and six rebounds but the Scorpions of new coach Jeff Napa fell to 0-2.
Karate Kid-CEU trailed 49-38 at the break but came back in the third to pull within 59-57 entering the fourth.
A three by David Murrell early in the fourth cut the Scorpions’ deficit to 62-60 early in the fourth but it proved to be their last chance to scoring an upset as the Green Archers were able to pull away.
Baltazar scored eight straight points for La Salle at one point in the fourth to take a 74-66 lead.
The scores:
ECOOIL-LA SALLE 79 — Baltazar 20, Serrano 18, Ndiaye 10, Melecio 7, Hill 7, Vales 6, Manuel 6, Lojera 5, Bartlett 0, Bates 0.
KARATE KID-CEU 73 — Arana 13, Bernabe 10, Murrell 9, Apacible 8, Taladua 8, Guinitaran 8, Diaz 6, Sunga 6, Pingoy 3, Santos 2, Abastillas 0.
Quarters: 23-15; 49-38; 59-57; 79-73.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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