Fruitas eyes outright semis spot vs Boracay

FRUITAS seeks the second outright semifinal berth today when it clashes with dangerous Boracay Rum in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Toting a 7-3 record, the Shakers can leapfrog past Blackwater Elite at second with a victory over the Waves, who are also looking to seal a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinals.

The Elite, losers of back-to-back games, actually have an 8-3 record, but will lose the No. 2 spot with a Shakers victory because of the winner-over-the-other rule.

NLEX, which has tabbed the first outright semifinal spot,  seeks a ninth straight victory when it tangles with already-eliminated Jumbo Plastic at 12 noon, before cellar dwellers Informatics and Hog’s Breath meet at 4 p.m. in another no-bearing encounter.

Focus will be on the Fruitas-Boracay Rum duel at 2 p.m. with both teams hoping to get good positions heading into the playoffs.

The Shakers stayed on track of the No. 2 berth with a 73-69 edging of Café France last Monday.

Fruitas’ chances will hinge mostly on former St. Benilde gunner Carlo Lastimosa, who leads the league in scoring (19.2 ppg).

Waves coach Lawrence Chongson said they can’t take Fruitas lightly.

“They’re a tough team and they’re really playing well,” Chongson. With a report from Nicolo Pascual