AKIRA-Adamson University and Gamboa Coffee Mix-Saint Clare—two teams on winning streak—part ways today in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants’ Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
For Franz Pumaren, the Akari-Adamson University coach, the 2 p.m. showdown against the Coffee Lovers gives him another chance to determine his team’s full potential.
The Falcons and Coffee Lovers are coming off back-to-back wins.
In the other game, Che’Lu Bar and Grill-San Sebastian and Jose Rizal University (JRU) battle each other at 4 p.m. with both teams determined to get out of the cellar. Both teams have lost their last two games.
“Basically what we’re doing is we want the players to react,” said Pumaren after their 84-75 win against Che’Lu Bar & Grill-San Sebastian last Monday.
“We’re trying to improve the overall individual skills of our players, at the same time, review our concepts and rules,” he said. “We just want the players to adjust to the situation because down the road, I believe that could help us.”
In his quest for third successive win, Pumaren is once again counting on Jerrick Ahanmisi for his leadership.
Coffee Lovers Coach Jinino Manansala, on the other hand, wants his troop to treat the game as another chance for his charges to prove that they can compete against the elite teams of the league.
“I want to make a statement. We want to get the respect we deserve,” Manansala said.
Gamboa Coffee Mix-Saint Clare is fresh from its 93-76 thumping of JRU and would love nothing more than to slay another big fish.