The USJ-R/Bibbo Hotdog goes for the kill; UC-Aspac Bank for survival.
These two teams play Game 2 tonight of their best-of-three series for the championship of the Reinforced Partner’s Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.
With the determination, they showed in Game 1, the Jaguars of Coach Edito Salacut are more than ready to finish the job after a convincing 109-101 victory over UC.
USJ-R looked as if they have the antidote to Jun Mar Fajardo, the lean 6’7” slotman of UC, who despite scoring 37 points, fouled out in last Tuesday’s game.
The wards of Coach Roel Gomez must prove they could put one over USJ-R, a team they have yet to beat. In the game last Tuesday, the Webmasters looked as if they could score their first victory over USJ-R after leading early in the second quarter but then collapsed when USJ-R in the second canto.
Again, veteran Luther Luke Justiniani is the key to USJ-R victory tonight.
If he cans those triples as he did last Tuesday, UC is in trouble. Then there’s Lyndon Gude, Ranulfo Malinao, Manny Gabas, Armand Ponce and Jabe Delfino.
Fajardo has to play smart and not foul out if he wants a rubber match. Despite his height advantage, USJ-R was able to get him out of his sweet spot last Tuesday.
The bench has to support Fajardo. It’s obvious he can’t do it alone. Allain Abellanosa, Jonathan Canceran, Janssen Abella, Jared Kane Abatayo and Kelvin Juliane have to step up tonight, or else it will be goodbye for them.
Earlier today, DBTC Unilab-Alaxan also seeks to sweep CIT-Metro Gaisano for third place. DBTC came from behind to beat CIT 74-71 last Tuesday.