Michael and Benjamin Phillips showed the way as La Salle-EcoOil routed Builders Warehouse-UST, 112-82, to open its 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup in a rousing fashion on Saturday, July 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers were relentless on both ends of the floor as they broke the game wide open with an impeccable first half to notch their first win in the tournament.
Michael finished with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds while his brother, Benjamin, did his share with 16 points and eight boards. Cyrus Austria and Joaqui Manuel provided support with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
La Salle stepped on the gas pedal and left UST in the dust with a 17-point lead, 32-15, at the end of the opening frame. The Archers continued their offensive display in the second quarter, punctuated by a huge 14-0 run that allowed them to take a commanding 61-28 lead late in the first half.
The margin was already out of UST’s reach, even staring at a 36-point deficit, 66-30, in the third frame.
Nicael Cabanero tried to pump some life to the young UST squad with his 21 points while Sherwin Concepcion and Kean Baclaan added 19 and 18, respectively, but were just not enough to overcome the massive lead La Salle had built.