by Jerome Lagunzad
Game Today (Ynares Sports Arena)
4 p.m. – Che’Lu Bar and Grill vs Zark’s Burgers
(Game 2, Revellers lead series 1-0)
Newcomer Che’Lu Bar and Grill is bracing for an expected retaliation by Zarks Burgers as the Revellers try to close out the Jawbreakers in Game 2 today and clinch the 2018 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup title at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Revellers are determined to come up with a strong follow up to a 107-103 victory over the erstwhile favored Jawbreakers in the series opener last Tuesday and complete their own unlikely run for the season-opening crown.
But Che’Lu Bar and Grill coach Stevenson Tiu admitted it won’t be easy knowing Zark’s Burgers, built around the core of NCAA finalist Lyceum Pirates, remains a resilient bunch which won’t go down without a whale of a fight.
“Kailangan kunin na namin kasi mahirap kalaban ang Zark’s,” he said. “Definitely babawi sila. Itong game na ‘to (Game 1), swerte lang kami in the endgame. Mas maganda lang ‘yung defense namin.”
However, Tiu and the rest of the Revellers won’t complain if they’re lucky than good since they proven that there’s still indeed life even without chief playmaker Jeff Viernes, who got called up by GlobalPort last week for a pro league comeback.
Jawbreakers tactician Topex Robinson readily acknowledged that the Revellers apparently played with a chip on their collective shoulders, especially in a nip-and-tuck encounter down the stretch.
“Even without Viernes, they’re still a very dangerous team. And they still played well even without him. Mayroon slang pinaghuhugutan,” he said.. “This is the finals. Che’Lu made it this far not because they’re lucky. They’re really a good team.”
But Robinson remains confident that the Jawbreakers, despite blowing a golden chance for an early series lead the last time out, are capable enough to bounce back and force a winner-take-all showdown next week.
