League leader Phoenix hopes its early struggles would be a thing of the past even as CaféFrance resumes its title-retention bid as they face lowly rivals today in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
CaféFrance battles Blustar Detergent at 4 p.m. in its first game since the league took a week-long break while Phoenix seeks to maintain its hold of the top spot opposite AMA Online Education in the nightcap set at 6 p.m.
Phoenix leads the seven-team conference with a 6-1 record, while CaféFrance is right behind at 5-1.
But Phoenix is playing as if it’s not keen on winning a second straight crown following the Aspirants Cup triumph last April after enduring tough matches even against losing teams prior to the break that the league observed in last week’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The Accelerators returned in a big way last Tuesday by trouncing the Tanduay Rhum Masters, 108-95, a result coach Eric Gonzales is hoping that would lead to a much-improved squad in their remaining elimination round games.
“I told them na kung saan tayo nadapa, doon tayo bumangon. Thankful ako dahil nagrespond naman yung mga players,” Gonzales said.