THE last four teams standing begin their best-of-three semifinals series in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants’ Cup Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Apex Fuel-San Sebastian and Marinerong Pilipino collide at 9 a.m., while EcoOil-La Salle tries to extend its mastery over Adalem Construction-St. Clare at 11 p.m.
The Golden Stags, the unlikely top seed this conference, are coming in well rested, but coach Egay Macaraya remains weary acknowledging the tough challenge they have to hurdle.
“They’re a tough opponent so we prepared well especially on defense,” said Macaraya who will lean on his motley crew of Romel Calahat, Rhinwil Yambing and Ichie Altamirano.
Macaraya’s fears are substantiated given that the Skippers are one of only two teams which beat the Golden Stags this conference, taking an 86-64 win last July 9.
But Marinerong Pilipino coach Yong Garcia also knows well that the Apex Fuel-San Sebastian crew they are facing in the semifinals is different from the one it played way back in opening day.
“They’re a solid team, a tough foe. Just look at their five-game streak,” said Garcia, who will again bank on Juan Gomez de Liano, Jollo Go and Kemark Carino for the clash.
The fourth-seeded Skippers, though, are well prepared after their big 75-66 win over Centro Escolar University last Friday to earn their seat in the semis.
“We hope to bring our momentum to the semifinals,” Garcia said.
The second-seeded Green Archers, meanwhile, are heavily favored over the Saints on the strength of their 72-69 win against the same team last July 27 in the eliminations.
Kevin Quiambao, Michael Phillips and new recruits Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy and Schonny Winston remain the key pieces for La Salle.
Still, coach Derick Pumaren refuses to rest on his laurels, acknowledging that games are won on the court and not on paper.
“St. Clare is still a tough team and as much as we come in as the two-seed, we have to respect our opponents,” he said.
The Saints also understand that they are the underdogs in this matchup which only motivates the squad led by Johnsherick Estrada, Joshua Fontanilla and John Rojas.
“We’re ready for whatever they prepared for us,” said coach Jinino Manansala after St. Clare hacked out a 90-87 win over Builders Warehouse-University of Santo Tomas on Wednesday in their do-or-die quarterfinal clash.