THE current standings indicate that Cignal/San Beda has a pretty good chance of clinching an outright semifinal berth.
That should be a motivation for the Hawkeyes, who are out to keep their winning streak going in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League Aspirants Cup.
Riding a three-game winning run since dropping their opening game against the AMA University Titans on January 24, Cignal/San Beda is the hands down favorite to make it four in a row today.
Coming off a 95-68 rout of Team Batangas on Monday, the Hawkeyes takes on the free falling Blustar Detergent at 1 p.m. at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.
The visiting Malaysians (0-3) are one of two teams that remain winless in the tournament. Victoria Sports/Manuel L. Quezon University brings up the rear of the 10-team field with a 0-4 record.
Notwithstanding Blustar’s record and deficiency in talent, Cignal caoch Boyet Fernandez warns that anything can happen so they can’t treat their rivals lighly.
“We’re still a team in progress. We still have to develop our teamwork, so we have to stay focused every game,” Fernandez said.
A fourth win by the Hawkeyes will earn them a share of second spot with idle CaféFrance behind surprise leader Racal (5-0).
The top two teams of the eliminations earn outright semifinal berths while the next four teams advance to the quarterfinals with the third and fourth seed teams clinching a twice-to-beat advantage. The bottom four teams will be eliminated.
In the first game, a well-rested Jose Rizal University tries to snap a two-game skid when it takes on Victoria Sports/San Beda at 11 a.m.
The Bombers are occupying sixth place with 2-2 record.