Eco Oil–La Salle Green Archers scored a 79-73 win over Karate Kid-CEU Scorpions last week, March 9, in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Justine Baltazar led Eco Oil–La Salle with 20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists; while Encho Serrano added 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals; and Amadou Ndiaye finished with 10 points, 16 boards, two dimes, and two rejections.
“Nobody can stop [Baltazar],” Eco Oil–La Salle head coach Derrick Pumaren affirmed. “We had to go to him every time.”
Baltazar sparked a 10-2 run for Eco Oil–La Salle and widened their lead with 5:02 remaining. Despite Karate Kid-CEU charging back repeatedly, they only got as close as 74-70 with 2:48 left in the game.
Justin Arana top-scored for Karate Kid-CEU with 13 points and three rebounds, while Dave Bernabe contributed 10 points and six boards./ASC, WDJ