Blades out to boost semis bid vs Warriors

The Batangas Blades take on lowly Surigao today in the MBA-FedEx Crossover Cup, gunning for the first of two victories they need to stay alive in the semifinal round race at the La Salle Lipa Sentrum.

Supported by LBC, the Blades (6-6) are heavily fancied over the Surigao Warriors in their 2 p.m. encounter even as erstwhile league-leader San Juan faces Iloilo at the Univ. of San Agustin Gym in Iloilo City at 4:30 p.m.

Batangas is locked in a three-way tie with Negros and Cebu at seventh place and can still make it or at least force a tie for the last semis berth with a sweep of its last two games.

Laguna took the first playoff berth followed by San Juan and Pasig-Rizal last Sunday.

Expected to lead the Blades' charge are Tonyboy Espinosa, Eddie Laure and the comebacking former national team mainstay Ralph Rivera.

Surigao is in the cellar with a woeful 2-9 card but remains a dangerous rival since their two victories came at the expense of Manila and Pampanga.