Games Thursday
Ynares Arena, Pasig City
1 p.m. – MP Hotel vs Liver Marin
3p.m. – AMA University vs Hapee
The losing streak over, MP Hotel tries to keep on winning for a change.
The Warriors try to win two straight when they take on struggling Liver Marin on Thursday in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
Game time is 1 o’clock between the two school-based teams honing up in preparation for the upcoming NCAA season.
“This will be an interesting matchup. Both are school-based teams working with the same goal. Our participation here is part of our preparation for the upcoming NCAA season,” said MP Hotel coach Jose Luis Gonzales.
MP Hotel is built around the core of the Letran Knights while majority of Liver Marin’s players are members of the San Sebastian Stags.
The well-rested Warriors are coming into the game with a high level of confidence following their 107-106 stunner against Cagayan Valley last March 26 that snapped an 11-game losing skid dating back to the elimination round of last conference’s Aspirants’ Cup.
“This [win] is a good confidence boost. Hopefully, we could build on this. Liver Marin’s desire to nail its first win makes them dangerous, so we have to match their energy,” said Gozales, who is counting on Rey Nambatac, Kier Quinto, Chris Masaglang and Jopher Custodio to carry the load for the team.
Liver Marin brings up the rear of the 10-team field with a 0-3 record so that makes the Guardians hard-pressed to avoid a fourth straight loss.
Meanwhile, AMA University tries to maintain its position when it battles shorthanded Hapee in the other game at 3 p.m.
Inspired by their 76-74 come-from-behind victory against Tanduay Light last week, the Titans try to win two in a row and third overall in four games to break out of three-team logjam and move to solo second behind league leader Cebuana Lhuillier (3-0).
The Fresh Fighters, who are coming off a 74-50 rout of Liver Marin also last week, will be without the injured Rayray Parks and Arnold Van Opstal but remains a challenge considering their bench depth.