By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Ynares Sports Arena)
1 p.m. — JRU vs Mila’s Lechon
3 p.m. — AMA vs Zark’s Burgers
5 p.m. — Akari vs Marinerong Pilipino
Fancied Marinerong Pilipino guns for the solo lead while Zark’s Burgers aims to sustain its resurgence today when they take on separate rivals in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Skippers, fresh from a 94-92 win over the Jawbreakers in the opener last week, are eager to pick up from where they left off in their 5 p.m. showdown with newcomer Akari, built around the core of UAAP contender Adamson.
“We need to keep on getting better everyday because everybody is going to prepare hard against us,” said Marinerong Pilipino coach Koy Banal. “We need to get better everyday since ang immediate concern namin is our cohesiveness.”
Also determined to continue its winning form is Zark’s Burgers, which squares off with AMA Online Education at 3 p.m.
Raising the curtains for the blockbuster triple-header is the 1 p.m. encounter between Jose Rizal University and debuting Mila’s Lechon.
The Jawbreakers are expected to gain a fair share of the spotlight as they try to come up with a fitting follow-up to an impressive 112-75 victory over Batangas last Tuesday, giving fans and foes alike a glimpse of what they’re capable of.
“We just have to keep on doing what we have been doing all along,” said Zark’s Burgers coach Topex Robinson, who got a tremendous effort from his wards on both ends the last time out, with star CJ Perez, skipper MJ Ayaay and Cameroon big man Mike Nzeusseu accounting for double-doubles each.
The Jawbreakers, playing for the third time in a week, are hoping fatigue won’t take its toll on them as they try to pile up more misery to the Titans, who are smarting from an 18-point loss to Wang’s Basketball last Tuesday.
“We don’t know what AMA will do. We don’t have control of that. What we have control of is how we’re going to prepare against them,” said Robinson. “AMA also played recently so I don’t think any team will any advantage in terms of rest.”
