Green Archers, Red Lions tagged as favorites in Aspirants’ Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Back-to-back reigning champion EcoOil-La Salle and runner-up Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda headline the cast as the PBA Developmental League ushers in its 2024 calendar with the Aspirants’ Cup on March 14 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

Also in the fray are Centro Escolar University, Gotorakku-St. Clare, Keanzel, and CCI-Yengskivel for a six-team field in yet another exciting D-League tiff.

But all eyes are on the Green Archers and the Red Lions, who loom as the heavy favorites anew for a potential trilogy.

EcoOil-La Salle bested Marinero in three games two years ago in D-League’s return after a long hiatus due to the pandemic before scoring a sweep against the San Beda-reinforced club, 108-82, 89-74, last year to build an impending dynasty.

Led by Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao, the Green Archers replicated their D-League dominance to their mother league UAAP, where they snapped a seven-year drought at the expense of powerhouse UP with a thrilling Game 3 comeback win to rule Season 86 for their 10th crown.

San Beda achieved the same, pulling off a reverse sweep on Mapua to reign supreme in the NCAA Season 99 for its 23rd title.

Their counterparts, however, are keen on giving the two fancied collegiate programs a run for their own money in a single-round classification.

Outright seats to the semifinals are reserved for the Top Two teams with the next four squads still needing to go through the best-of-three quarterfinals to complete the Final Four.

The third and fourth-ranked teams will enjoy twice-to-beat bonuses in the semis against the fifth and sixth-placed squads, respectively, with the bottom team getting the early boot.

Each team will play a total of five games in the classification as the full schedule and venues are being finalized at the moment.