by Jonas Terrado
Games Thursday (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City)
12 noon – Valencia-SSCR vs CD14-Trinity
2 p.m. – AMA vs FamilyMart-Enderun
4 p.m. – Ironcon-UST vs St. Clare
Ironcon-University of Santo Tomas and St. Clare-Virtual Reality face off for a chance to boost their quarterfinal bids in the PBA D-League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Tigers and Saints clash at 4 p.m. as they break their share of second place in the Aspirants Group at 5-2 and hope to gain ground in the quarterfinals race.
AMA Online Education and FamilyMart-Enderun meet in a non-bearing match at 2 p.m. Both teams are already eliminated from playoff contention.
UST and St. Clare are slightly ahead of third place Petron-Letran which ended the elims at 6-3 and 5-3 teams Go for Gold-St. Benilde and Che’Lu Bar & Grill.
A loss will put either team in danger of missing a top four finish with the race to the last three quarters slot in the group still wide open.
Only Cignal-Ateneo with its 8-1 slate has clinched a quarters berth in the Aspirants bracket.
The winner also enhances its quest to also gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the crossover quarters allotted to the top two teams in the group.
Growling Tigers coach Aldin Ayo will bank on Soulemane Chabi-yo, Rhenz Abando, Mark Nonoy, Marvin Lee and Brent Paraiso to hurdle the challenge of a St. Clare squad that surprised everyone at the start with four straight wins.
