Reinforced Partners Cup resumes today

After a two-week respite during the Christmas holidays,  hostilities of the Reinforced CESAFI Partners Cup resume today at the Cebu Coliseum with two interesting matches on tap as two unbeaten teams part ways, while one squad is aching to hit into the win column.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm R. Lapid’s Chicharon vs.

CIT/Metro Gaisano

6 pm USJ-R/Bibbo Hotdogs vs.

UC/Aspac Bank

Unbeaten in three games for what could have been their best start in any tournament, the UC/Aspac Bank of coach Roel Gomez faces yet its real acid test when it clashes with USJ-R/Bibbo Hotdogs in the main match at 6 pm.

Both squads sport a clean 3-0 slate, but there could only be one winner who will enjoy the solo lead and that is one interesting match-up the Cebuano cage fans should watch out for.

 The Bibbo Hotdogs-backed USJ-R Jaguars, the losing finalist in last year’s Partners Cup under the VFI Hotdogs jersey, are more intact and adorned by a bunch of deadly veterans.

With that, USJ-R/Bibbo Hotdogs is indeed the team to beat especially in the absence of the UV Green Lancers.

Not only Bibbo Hotdogs are reinforced by commercial veterans in the likes of Luther Luke Justiniani and Manny Gabas, they also parade a few sensational hoopbusters such as Armand Ponce, Jessmar Villahermosa, Bobby Hatague, Jabe Delfino and Lyndon Gudez.

 Underdog perhaps in tonight’s hardcourt war, the Webmasters are certainly no pushovers because of one man who can spell wonders for his team. He is none other than the 6-foot-7 behemoth Jun Mar Fajardo.

Fajardo has the answers that might raise the eyebrows of many basketball lovers pro-UC or not. In just three games, this lanky sky-scraper from the southern town of Pinamungajan, Cebu has already accumulated a total of 81 points broken down into 24 vs. R. Lapids, 30 vs. DBTC/Unilab Alaxan and 27 vs. CIT/Metro Gaisano.

In the other game, the R. Lapid’s Chicharon of coach Raul Latonio is still in pursuit of the very elusive victory. Latonio’s wards always come close to winning but fell short in the end because of their lack of the so-called “killer instinct.”

 R. Lapid’s Chicharon is not losing hope though and CIT/Metro Gaisano should better prepare for one big fight tonight.