EcoOil-La Salle clinches top spot

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning champion EcoOil-La Salle secured the No. 1 seed as Centro Escolar U salvaged second spot for outright semifinal tickets in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup late Thursday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Green Archers stamped their class on Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda in a heavyweight duel between UAAP and NCAA champions, 82-71, while the Scorpions stung CCI-Yengskivel, 96-78, to top the single-round prelims of the six-team tourney.

La Salle completed a clean 5-0 slate, followed by CEU at 4-1 as San Beda settled for third place at 3-2 after the costly defeat.

The Red Lions now have to go through the quarterfinals first against the winless Keanzel Basketball (0-5) while Go Torakku-St. Clare (2-3) and CCI-Yengskivel (1-4) clash in the other pairing.

San Beda and St. Clare sport a win-once bonus in the quarterfinals set Monday.