TOP seed Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda renews its rivalry with Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran while reigning champion EcoOil-La Salle tangles with University of Perpetual Help System Dalta at the start Thursday of the semifinal series in the Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Act I of the best-of-three series starts with the 2 p.m. duel between the Red Lions and the Knights before the Green Archers test the mettle of the Altas at 4 o’clock.
For earning an outright passage into the semifinals, San Beda and La Salle enjoyed the luxury of a week-long break that enabled them to rest and heal.
But momentum will be on the side of Perpetual and Letran, who both survived fiery challenges from their respective rivals in a thrilling quarterfinals on Tuesday.
“Hindi kaming pwedeng mag-relax kasi dito sa PBA D-League playoffs, tumataas ang laro so dapat makasabay kami doon,” San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said. “We expect the games to be tougher. There’s no room to relax,”
La Salle deputy coach Guan Nazario agreed.
“We know that there will be ups and downs but it’s a chance for us to get better,” Nazario said.
Letran needed to work overtime to defeat Centro Escolar University, 94-87, while Perpetual fended off PSP Gymers, 97-90.
“We’re very excited kasi San Beda makakalaban namin. They’re the No. 1 team at ’yun ang nagmo-motivate sa amin,” Letran coach Rensy Bajar said. “We need to stick on our defense na nagbibigay sa amin ng buhay at siyang kultura namin dito sa Letran.”
Altas coach Myk Saguiguit also welcomed the challenge.
“We hope na maging maganda itong journey nmain sa first semis namin in D-League,” he said. “Syempre, La Salle is the defending champion so it’s gonna be a good series. Marami kaming matututunan dito. We’re gonna bring out our best.”