Games Today
1 p.m. – Jumbo Plastic vs Tanduay Light
3 p.m. – Cebuana Lhuillier vs Café France
Cebuana Lhuillier’s improved roster takes a litmus test today in the 2015 PBA D-League Foundation Cup as the Gems battle the Café France Bakers in a match-up between two losing semifinalists last conference at the JCSGO Gym in Cubao, Quezon City.
The Gems, who lost to the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns in the deciding Game 3 of their semifinal series, look interesting with their acquisition of the high-leaping Jackson Corpuz, 3-points artist Roider Cabrera and veteran Mark Acosta.
The trio provides inside and outside threat for the Gems, who should figure prominently in the title race with its well-balanced roster. But whether Cebuana Lhuillier coach Boyzie Zamar could maximize the potential of his team will be under close watch in their 3 p.m. encounter against the Bakers, who defeated the Gems, in overtime in their only meeting in the eliminations last conference.
Café France coach Egay Macaraya readily admitted that the Gems enjoy an advantage in terms of bench depth. “But we should be good as long as we play solid,” he noted.
Macaraya injuries to his key players “could be a big factor in our game against Cebuana.”
In the first game at 1 o’clock, Tanduay Light faces a Jumbo Plastic that also underwent a makeover after a disappointing campaign last conference.
Tanduay Light coach Lawrence Chongson believes the Rhum Masters can compete on even footing against the league’s elite teams.