Erram, Ravena, Parks reinforce Gilas

Marinero, EcoOil join early leaders

Games on Tuesday (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig) 11 a.m. – EcoOil-La Salle vs Marinerong Pilipino / 1 p.m. – AMA Online vs Wangs Basketball @26-Letran

3 p.m. – Adalem Construction-St. Clare vs CEU Marinerong Pilipino and EcoOil-La Salle scored blowout victories against separate counterparts to force an early four-way logjam on top after the opening week of the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Led by the returning Juan Gomez de Liaño, the Skippers sank Apex Fuel-San Sebastian, 86-74, while the Green Archers walloped Builders Warehouse-Santo Tomas, 112-82.

Marinero and EcoOil-La Salle notched 1-0 cards to join first-day winners Wangs Basketball @26-Letran and Centro Escolar U ahead of the eight-team D-League cast.

After serving as import in the Japan B. League, Gomez de Liaño, the former UP stalwart, flirted with a triple-double of 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for a roaring return to local tourney.

He was not alone in Marinero’s onslaught as Jollo Go, a third-round pick in this year’s PBA Rookie Draft, sizzled for 23 markers and 10 assists after being left unsigned by new franchise Converge.

“Masaya na nakuha namin ‘yung first win pero marami pa kaming lapses na dapat i-correct,” said coach Yong Garcia.

Earlier, brothers Michael (23 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks) and Ben Phillips (16 points, eight rebounds) joined forces in EcoOil’s 30-point demolition of Santo Tomas.

TNT’s Poy Erram and Japanbased players Thirdy Ravena and Ray Parks return to the fold as Gilas Pilipinas takes on the continent’s best in next week’s FIBA Asia Cup at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Parks wears the Philippine tricolors for the first time since the 2017 Southeast Asian Games while Erram and Ravena are back after last suiting up in the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers last February.

The trio reinforces the youth-laden team that split its two assignments in the third window against New Zealand and India, including skipper Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo, SJ Belangel, RJ Abarrientos, Geo Chiu, William Navarro, Francis Lopez and Kevin Quiambao.

Rhenz Abando was named reserve of the Asia Cup-bound Gilas crew that also welcomed back program director Chot Reyes at the helm.