Elite, Waves dispute last final berth

Game today (Blue Eagle Gym)

3 p.m. – Blackwater Sports vs Boracay Rum

MANILA, Philippines - Blackwater Sports and Boracay Rum collide today in what promises to be a fierce duel for the last championship berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Blue Eagle Gym in Ateneo.

The Waves kept their season alive by beating the fancied Elite, 69-65, in Game Two of their best-of-three Final Four series last week.

But the Elite vow to bounce back strong as they try to erase the stigma of their Game Three semifinal loss to the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns in the last Aspirants Cup.

The sudden death is set at 3 p.m. with the winner challenging top seed and defending champion NLEX in another best-of-three title series.

“Nothing has changed in our goal to make the finals. We’re just one win away to get there,” said Blackwater Sports coach Leo Isaac.

For Boracay Rum coach Lawrence Chongson, the rubber match is a “bonus” to their roller coaster ride this season and to be able to play in the finals would be an overachievement for his lightweight troops.

“For a once mediocre team like ours, the semis already serves as our finals,” said Chongson.

The victory in Game 2 should give the Waves some moral boost entering the deciding match but Chongson said he doesn’t believe in momentum when it comes to this kind of series.

“We just have to battle and battle and give it our best shot. Hopefully, our resilience will make a difference again,” he said.