Games Today JCSGO Gym, Cubao, Quezon City
12 n.n. – AMA University vs Cagayan Valley
2 p.m. – Racal Motors vs Hapee
4 p.m. – Tanduay Light vs Jumbo Plastic
League leader Hapee and Cagayan Valley resume their campaigns in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup against separate opponents today at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.
Coming off a 13-day Christmas break, the Fresh Fighters remain heavy favorites to preserve their pristine record when they face the Racal Motors Alibaba at 2 p.m.
Hapee wound up its campaign in 2014 with an 84-63 beating of MP Hotel last Dec. 22 for its eight consecutive win that secured its place in the semifinals.
With Bobby Ray Parks playing his best basketball and getting a lot of support from their bench, the Fresh Fighters should encounter little problem in disposing off Racal Motors [2-6] which has lost two successive games and three of its last four that practically dropped the Alibaba from the playoff race.
Cagayan Valley (7-0) is also hands-down favorite to clinch its eighth straight against AMA University in their 12 noon showdown.
Led by 6-foot-9 Moala Tautuaa, the Risings Suns are certainly a tough matchup for AMA University (3-5) but the Titans’ desire to win to stay in contention for a quarterfinal berth could serve them in good stead.
The Rising Suns, who can clinch the second outright semifinal berth with another victory, will again be without head coach Alvin Pua for the second straight game. The temperamental coach has been fined P50,000 and suspended for three games by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud for physically contacting a game official.
In the other game, Tanduay Light (4-4) battles Jumbo Plastic at 4 p.m., looking to win four straight to stay on track for a Top 4 finish and a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
The Giants (5-3), visibly hurt by injuries to Jan Colina and McLean Sabellina and the loss of guards Brian Heruela and Janus Lozada, have lost two of their last three games.
Hopefully, the 20-day break allowed them to regroup as they try to bounce back from a 74-82 loss to Cagayan Valley last Dec.15 to keep its grip of fourth place.