Hog’s, NLEX clash today

Games Today Blue Eagle Gym
10 a.m. – Jumbo vs Wangs Basketball
12 p.m. – Arellano U vs Derulo Accelero
2 p.m. – Hog’s Breath Café vs NLEX

Hog’s Breath Café coach Caloy Garcia quickly dismissed the notion that their scheduled meeting with defending champion NLEX on Thursday is a sort of rematch between NCAA finalist Letran and San Beda.

“The NCAA is over. This is a different league. The teams are also different,” Garcia declared.

Noticeably, the 2 p.m. encounter between the Razorbacks and the Road Warriors put Garcia and NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez back on the war path, barely two weeks since Fernandez and the Red Lions humbled Garcia and his Letran Knights in the best-of-3 NCAA championship series.

Coincidence, the core of the Hog’s Breath Café is built around Letran stars’ Kevin Racal, Jonathan Belorio, Reneford Ruaya and Jamil Gabawan while NLEX , which forged a tie-up with San Beda, has enlisted the services of Baser Amer, 6-8 Ola Adeogun, Art dela Cruz, Kyle Pascual, Ryusei Koga and Rome dela Rosa.

For additional color, the Razorabacks (4-0) and the Road Warriors (3-0) are two of the only three remaining unbeaten clubs in the 14-team field making their meeting even more interesting. League leader Big Chill (6-0) is taking a well-deserved rest but its coaching staff will surely be around to scout the two teams.

The Superchargers are scheduled to play the defending champions on Monday.

In the other games also scheduled on Thursday at the Blue Eagle gym, Jumbo Plastic (4-1) takes on the upset conscious Wangs Basketball at 10 a.m while Strugglin teams Arellano University and Derulo Acceleo collide at 12 noon.

“Playing NLEX is like playing the national team. They are a deep team. They have height and are complete in every position. But every game is different. Hopefully, our speed will be more than enough to neutralize their height advantage,” said Garcia.

The Razorbacks are coming off a 91-69 victory against Cebuana Lhuillier on Tuesday so their confidence and energy should still be at maximum level heading to their much-awaited date with the Road Warriors.