4 more teams make debut in D-League

Games today (Ynares Arena)

12 p.m. – Zambales M-Builders vs Wang’s Basketball

2 p.m. – Arellano U vs Hog’s Breath Café

4 p.m. – Cebuana Lhuillier vs Café France

MANILA, Philippines - Zambales M-Builders look to get back on the winning track as four more teams make their debut Thursday in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.

The Builders aim to bounce from Tuesday’s 87-91 loss to early leader Cagayan Valley when they collide against Wang’s Basketball at 12 noon. It will be M-Builders third game in eight days.

The other schedules pit newcomer Arellano University against Hog’s Breath Café at 2 o’clock while Cebuana Lhuillier  takes on Café France at 4 p.m.

Notwithstanding Tuesday’s heartbreaker, the Builders should enjoy some momentum against Wang’s Basketball, a team built around veteran reserves and young, unheralded players.

With a roster that has an average height of 6-4, Wang’s Basketball should match-up well against the Builders, who have been getting solid performance from Jett Vidal, Bryan Cruz, Mike Tolomia and Marlon Gomez in their first two games.

M-Builders played catch up against Cagayan Valley and trailed by as many as 13 points. But it slowly clawed its way back and made the game exciting in the closing seconds when Roger Pogoy knocked a 3-pointer to tie the count at 87-all with  seven seconds remaining.

But in the ensuing play, forward Mark Bringas received a pass from John Pinto and nailed a tough shot from the right corner with 3.8 seconds to go to lift the Rising Suns to their second straight win.

Café France also tries to put behind their 74-83 loss against Cagayan Valley on opening day when they engage the Gems, a team built around the core of the UE Warriors.

Hog’s Breath Café has put together a team with D-League experience that should work to its advantage when the Razorbacks test the mettle of  the Chiefs, who will be capitalizing on their height advantage and fresh legs.