Patriots, Blades seek second win

Nueva Ecija and LBC Batangas try to sustain the momentum of their opening-day victories as they take on separate opponents today in the 2001 MBA Nationals at the Tinga gym in Taguig.

The Patriots collide with the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems at 3 p.m. then the Blades clash with the Socsargen Marlins at 5:30 p.m.

The Blades dominated the FedEx Laguna Lakers, 95-80, while the Patriots relied on a choking defense to turn back the Marlins, 71-63, on Friday.

But while the Blades are fancied to make it two in a row against the Marlins, the same could not be said of the Patriots, who are expected to encounter stiff resistance against the Gems.

Batangas and Cebu swept Socsargen and Nueva Ecija in two games in the opening phase of the season topped by Andok’s San Juan.

The Gems still look formidable against the Patriots although the team will still be playing without Fil-Am ace Mat Mitchell who has yet to return from the United States. Cebuana Lhuillier is expected to get lift from Peter Naron and Stephen Padilla.

Francis Aquino, who scattered 21 points against Socsargen Friday, will be the man to watch in the Nueva Ecija lineup of coach Arlene Rodriguez. — Joey Villar