TWO wins.
Thats what EcoOil La Salle needs to retain the PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup championship trophy.
And that should be more than enough to keep the Green Archers motivated when they face-off against rival Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda Red Lions in Game 1 of the best-of-three title series Thursday.
It will be a rematch for the two teams which battled for the top prize last year with La Salle, then coached by Derick Pumaren, claiming the title after three hard-fought encounter.
Both sides believe this series will one again be a fight to the end again.
Sponsored content: In Tuesday's PSA Forum, La Salle's Gian Nazario and Ralph Penuela of San Beda agree there's no quarter asked, no quarter given mentality when the two squads takes the floor at 3 p.m. at the Ynares Sport Arena in Pasig City.
The Red Lions stunned the Green Archers in their only meeting in the eliminations, 82-79, on a game-winning three-pointer by Peter Alfaro.
But Penuela quickly noted that La Salle wasn't in full force at the time, notably missing the services of brothers Mike and Ben Philips, who were with the Gilas Pilipinas team campaigning in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
"Kaya we're coming in this finals with the mindset of an underdog kasi sobrang laking bagay nung Philips sa roster ng La Salle. Yung energy na binibigay nila, yung leadership na nai-imbibe nila sa team," offered Penuela.
Nazario agreed but stressed that doesn't mean the Red Lions can't compete with them with a complete team.
Sponsored content: "I'm not going to take away na we were shorthanded (when they beat us). But at the same time, we have to give credit to San Beda," Nazario said.
"The respect I have for coach Yuri (Escueta) and what he was able to put in sa kultura ng San Beda at Marinerong Pilipino speaks a lot." (JBU)
