CEBUANA Lhuillier tries to book a return trip to the Final Four at the resumption of its campaign against Liver Marin on Monday in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena.
The Gems hope to pick up where they left off and stretch their winning streak to seven games in the 3 p.m. encounter against a team already out of playoff contention but could spoil their agenda.
CaféFrance and Kera Mix, two teams also in the hunt for one of two outright semifinal berths, collide in the first game at 1 o’clock.
With their size, experience and bench depth, the unbeaten Gems should encounter little trouble in dispatching the Guardians (1-5) and clinch an outright semifinal in the season-ending tournament.
Cebuana comes into the game fresh and energized after a two-week break that could also turn the Gems rusty and out of sync.
“We can’t underestimate an opponent. Once you think you’re invincible you expose your weakness, and that’s when trouble starts,” Cebuana Coach Boycie Zamar said.
Zamar raised the concern after the team showed complacency in their last game—a scrambling 97-90 victory against AMA University.
“We need to go through games like that to remind us that we’re not invincible,” Zamar added.
The San Sebastian Stags, who carry the colors of Liver Marin, may be out of the running but their desire to win makes them dangerous. The Stags’ stint in the league is part of their preparation for the upcoming National Collegiate Athletic Association season.
Kera Mix is coming off an 89-84 win against Cagayan Valley last week and hopes to sustain the momentum against the Bakers, who are eager for a bounce-back victory after a 72-75 loss to the Aspirants Cup champion also last week snapped their five-game winning streak.
The Mixers are tied with the Rising Suns at third spot with a 4-3 record but a second straight victory will pull them abreast with the Bakers (5-2) at second place.