Will Cagayan spoil a Hapee end to duel?

Game today (Ynares Arena, Pasig City)

3 p.m. – Hapee vs Cagayan Valley

MANILA, Philippines - Hapee tries to put a happy ending to its PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup campaign today as it goes for a sweep of beleaguered top seed Cagayan Valley in Game Two of the best-of-three finals at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Fresh Fighters used their vaunted pressing defense to hold the Rising Suns below their usual scoring norm and fashion out an 82-74 victory in the series’ opener last Monday.

They vow to do more of the same in their 3 p.m. encounter with Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc also hoping to draw the best again from his top gunners in a bid to finish off the Rising Suns.

Cashing in on their championship experience and displaying grace under pressure, the Fresh Fighters dominated the Rising Suns early in Game One then thwarted their rivals’ repeated rallies at endgame to move closer to a dream championship.

Ola Adeogun and Troy Rosario took charge in offense with the Nigerian behemoth tallying 21 points and grabbing 15 boards while clamping down on Cagayan’s Moala Tautuaa. Rosario, on the other hand, added 16 markers on 7-of-10 shooting as Hapee move a win away from capping its successful return to the cage scene after a five-year hiatus.

Scottie Thompson and Baser Amer also stepped up, particularly on defense, in the third quarter when the Rising Suns threatened to within, 46-50, after trailing by as many as 20 points.

Expecting a big fightback from Cagayan, Magsanoc has cautioned his troops to be ready for a more physical and bruising encounter as the back-to-the-wall Rising Suns fight to live another day and force a sudden death. 

This marks the second “do-or die” for the Rising Suns, who also dropped the opener of their semifinal series with the Cebuana Lhuilier Gems before taking the next two.

Cagayan Valley beat Hapee in the elims, 80-77, en route to a sweep but failed to sustain their form in the post-elims play as US-born Fil-Tongan Moala Tautuaa and the rest of the team’s gunners struggled in the face of their rivals’ tough defensive stance.

The 6-7 Tautuaa did score 16 points and pull down 15 rebounds in the title series’ opener but Abel Galliguez, who normally delivers in the clutch, groped for just three points on 0-6 shooting, Eric Salamat went 2-of-6 from the field and Alex Austria made just one attempt and missed.

But Galliguez, Salamat and Austria are expected to bounce back strong and Tautuaa itching to get even with Adeogun and help Cagayan force a deciding Game 3.