Wangs’ Brent Paraiso vs Marinerong Pilipino’s Adrian Nocum. –PBA D-LEAUGE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Brent Paraiso carried Wangs Basketball @26-Letran past Marinerong Pilipino, 70-64, to gain solo top seed in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Friday at Ynares Center.
The veteran guard delivered six of the Knights’ last eight points as they avoided a 17-point collapse to remain unscathed in three games.
“Brent is a champion player at the same time veteran, so we really relied on him,” said assistant coach Rensy Bajar of Paraiso, who led the team with 14 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three, on top of five rebounds and two assists.
Paraiso salvaged Wangs-Letran down the stretch after Marinerong Pilipino’s 21-4 run tied the game at 58 with 3:47 remaining.
With the Knights holding a precarious 62-60 lead in the final 1:59, Paraiso hit a big three and completed a tough and-one play to give his side the 68-62 lead with 36.4 seconds left.
Kurt Reyson also finished with 14 points, eight boards, three assists, and two steals, while Kobe Monje scored 13 off the bench for Wangs-Letran.
Marinerong Pilipino leaned on Jollo Go’s 20 points on 5-of-11 three-point shooting, alongside six rebounds and three assists.
Juan Gomez de Liano was limited to just 10 points as he shot 2-of-9 from the field, to go with seven rebounds, six dimes, and four steals as the Skippers dropped to 2-1.
EcoOil-La Salle’s CJ Austria vs CEU’s Vince Ferrer. –PBA IMAGES
In the first game, EcoOil-La Salle shut down Centro Escolar University down the stretch to bounce back with a 76-65 win.
The Green Archers put the clamps on the Scorpions after the latter took a 59-58 lead with 6:06 remaining, scoring 16 unanswered points to build an insurmountable 74-59 edge in the final 1:28.
“We didn’t play the way we were supposed to do in the first three quarters. Luckily, we were able to regroup and we tightened up on defense,” said coach Derick Pumaren as EcoOil-La Salle rose to a 2-1 record.
CJ Austria led the cavalry with 18 points, four assists, and three rebounds, Michael Phillips also poured 12 points, 11 boards, two steals, and two blocks, and Penny Estacio poured 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
The Scores:
First Game:
EcoOil-La Salle 76 — Austria 18, M. Phillips 12, Estacio 12, Manuel 9, Nwankwo 6, Galman 6, Blanco 3, Alao 2, B. Phillips 2, Escandor 2, Cortez 2, Buensalida 2.
CEU 65 — Santos 16, Santiago 13, Tolentino 11, Bernabe 9, Diaz 5, Balogun 4, Penano 4, Borromeo 2, Ancheta 1, Ferrer 0, Cabotaje 0.
Quarters: 21-17, 39-36, 52-50, 76-65.
Second Game:
Wangs-Letran 70 — Paraiso 14, Reyson 14, Monje 13, Sangalang 9, Javillonar 8, Caralipio 7, Bataller 3, Olivario 2, Tolentino 0.
Marinerong Pilipino 64 — Go 20, Gamboa 11, Gomez de Liano 10, Bonifacio 9, Carino 6, Nocum 5, Bonsubre 3, Pido 0, Agustin 0, Hernandez 0, Lacap 0, Garcia 0.
Quarters: 12-17, 31-23, 54-37, 70-64.