By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City)
2 p.m. – Akari-Adamson vs Che’Lu Bar and Grill
4 p.m. – Marinerong Pilipino vs Zark’s Burgers
Perceived underdogs intend to forge an unlikely finals clash as Che’Lu Bar and Grill and Zark’s Burgers go for the kill against their higher-seeded semifinal rivals today in the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The fourth-seeded Revellers, fresh from a solid 70-60 victory over eliminations topnotcher Akari-Adamson in the series opener last Tuesday, aim to complete a stunning reversal over the erstwhile favored Falcons in the 2 p.m. opener.
“My players are all hungry to win the title. And who knows? As long as we work hard, we will give ourselves a chance to go all the way,” said Che’Lu Bar and Grill coach Stevenson Tiu.
Also determined to come up with strong follow-up to a 90-87 overtime victory over No. 2 Marinerong Pilipino in the opener and sustain their impressive playoff run are the sixth-seeded Jawbreakers who will try to finish off the Skippers at 4 p.m.
Zark’s Burgers coach Topex Robinson, however, is bracing himself for an expected response from his veteran Marinerong Pilipino counterparts.
“Knowing coach Koy and coach Joel (Banal), they’re gonna find ways to win,” he said. “But again, our focused is on the things that we can control. We just want to make sure that we always stay humble whatever blessing that we’re getting. It’s all about humility for us.”