D-League Foundation Cup resumes Tuesday

Games on Tuesday
 (FEU gym)

2 p.m. – Junior Powerade vs. FCA
4 p.m. – Freego Jeans vs. NLEX


FOUR more teams, including pre-tournament favorite NLEX, make their respective debuts at the resumption of the 2011 PBA D-League Foundation Cup Tuesday at the FEU gym.

On the second playing day of the fledgling league, Junior Powerade takes on the FCA Cultivators in the opening match set at 2 p.m., before Freego Jeans tests the mettle of the highly-fancied Road Warriors in the main game two hours later.

That all eyes are on NLEX is understandable.

With PBA champion coach Boyet Fernandez at the helm, the Road Warriors assembled a deadly roster whose core is made up of former PBA player Ogie Menor, collegiate standouts Eric Salamat of three-time UAAP champion Ateneo and Calvin Abueva, who won an NCAA title with San Sebastian and Excelroof in the PBL. Abueva was also adjudged Finals MVP in the PBL’s final conference in 2010.

But Freego Jeans is expected to give NLEX a tough fight as the team has for its nucleus the Adamson Falcons team that made the Final Four of the last year’s UAAP season led by Julius Colina, Alexander Nuyles, and Lester Alvarez.

Leo Austria, the soft-spoken but very capable mentor of the Falcons, will also call the shots for the team.

The Junior Tigers, meanwhile, are backstopped by the UP Fighting Maroons team of coach Ricky Dandan led by big man Magi Sison.

The farm team of Powerade also boasts of the twin tower combination of former La Salle Archer Brian Ilad (6’6) and Fil-Am Mark Anthony Jeffries (6’5).

The Cultivators will lean on former Mapua standout Sean Co, Alfred Gerilla, and a host of former collegiate standouts to be handled by coach Arsenio Dysangco.

Pacific Pipes and Cobra Energy Drink currently share top spot after winning their respective matches on opening day at The Arena in San Juan. (pr)