D-League Aspirants Cup: Final or bust

MANILA, Philippines - Momentum is on the side of Cignal-San Beda and Cafe France and they hope to exoploit it to the hilt as they tangle with Tanduay and Racal in their respective winner-take-all Game Three semifinal tiffs in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City today.

The Hawkeyes prevailed in Game Two as Jason Perkins, Harold Arboleda, Pamboy Raymundo and Robert Bolick stepped up big in the homestretch to force the rubber match with the Rhum Masters at 5 p.m.

The Rhum Masters snapped top-seeded Cignal’s eight-game winning streak to take Game One and erased the Hawkeyes’ early 13-point advantage that led to the down-to-the-wire finish in Game Two.

“We were up by 13.  They thought it’s a won ballgame. We have to be consistent and be focused all the time. At least they have realized that Tanduay is a very tough team,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez remains wary of the dangerous Rhum Masters core which threatened to turn things around in the  payoff period despite Mark Cruz and Jerwin Gaco’s failure to deliver their usual numbers, tallying eight points each.

“There’s no Cruz, there’s no Gaco, but they came back. The other guys really stepped up for them,” said Fernandez. 

Tanduay head coach Lawrence Chongson, meanwhile, looks to draw a more aggressive game from his players as they gun to book a return trip to the finals.

“They (Cignal) had their backs against the wall so they were more aggressive than us. We have to stay more aggressive, let this game (Game Two loss) slide and focus on Game Three. They made their run, next time it’s our turn,” said Chongson.

Ex-pro Lester Alvarez, who took charge in the Rhum Masters’ fourth quarter surge the last time out, is tipped to deliver anew.

The Bakers, on the other hand, will bank on their confidence-boosting Game Two win where they defeated the Tile Masters for the first time this conference.

They slug it out at 3 p.m.

Cafe France head coach Egay Macaraya stressed that his wards need to provide offensive suport to Congolese big man Rod Ebondo who once again towed the Bakers in Game Two with his 25-point and 22-rebound output.

“I need everybody. Right now, I am just fielding the veterans hoping that they will deliver,” said Macaraya.

Meanwhile, Racal will bank on Jackson Corpuz, Sidney Onwubere, Kent Salado and Rey Nambatac to book its first finals appearance.