Games on Thursday
(Ynares Sports Arena)
Pasig City
2p.m. – Cebuana Lhuillier vs PC Gilmore
4p.m. – NLEX vs Max! Bond Super Glue
NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez braces for a “very tough” battle when his
Road Warriors and the Max! Bond Super Glue Sumos clash on Thursday for
a Finals berth in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup.
The two teams arranged a semi-final showdown following contrasting
victories of their respective quarterfinal match on Tuesday. Max! Bond
Super Glue eliminated Blackwater, 74-71, courtesy of a clutch basket
from Reil Cervantes while NLEX pounced on an overmatched FCA team,
100-71.
According to Fernandez, Max! Bond Super Glue is a tough challenge
mainly because of its experienced core that features Junjun Cabatu,
Reil Cervantes, Lei Mar Navarro, Rudy Lingganay and Roel Hugnatan.
“We can match up well with their bigs. But I don’t think we have
answer for their experience,” Fernandez admits.
Youth, he said, is his team’s valuable asset so he hopes the Road
Warriors would take advantage of their aggressiveness and quickness.
“Our guys are young. Hopefully we could match their intensity and take
advantage of our quickness,” said Fernandez, assuring his troops would
show up for the 4 p.m. duel “super electrified.”
“Management has given us all the support we need and more. I think
that’s more than enough motivation for us to try and do the best we
can to win.”
Pido Jarencio, the Max! Bond Super Glue coach, insists they are coming
into this all-important knockout match as an underdog.
Powered by four Fil-Ams, referring to Clifford Hodge, Christian Reyes,
Karl Duhesa and Christopher Ellis, Jarencio said NLEX presents a
mismatch nightmare.
“Basta kami padikit-dikit lang. Ngayon kung may opportunity na
dumating ibang usapan na yan,” he said.
Whichever team wins will advance to the best-of-three championship
series against the winner of the other semi-final between Cebuana
Lhuillier and PC Gilmore.
Game time is set at 2 o’clock and Cebuana Lhuillier coach Luigi Trillo
said the Gems cannot “overachieve at this point.”
Trillo said PC Gilmore is a good scoring team that loves to
transition. And it has guards who like to score and create.
“Can we defend that? That’s my challenge to our guys,” he said.
In contrast, PC Gilmore coach Richard del Rosario claims he and his
team are coming into the game without any pressure considering they
are up against the pre-tournament favourite.
“There really is no pressure on us. However, since it’s a knockout
game there’s always a chance for an upset and were going all out to
make it to the finals,” he said.PR
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