Zambales, Café France face debutants

ZAMBALES M-Builders and Café  France take on separate debuting foes today in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at Ynares Arena in Pasig.

The Builders, smarting from a narrow 87-91 defeat at the hands of the solo leader Cagayan Valley Rising Suns, face Wang’s Basketball at 12 noon while the Café France Bakers tangle at 4 p.m. with the Cebuana Lhuillier Gems.

Playing their third game in a week, the Builders (1-1) have the edge over the Couriers after drawing stellar performances from Jett Vidal, Bryan Cruz, Mike Tolomia and Marlon Gomez in the first two games.

Zambales rose from 13 points down against the Rising Suns and seemed headed to victory in the closing seconds after Roger Pogoy drained a three in the closing seconds.

But luck went with the Rising Suns as Mark Bringas knocked down a tight looper from the corner with 3.8 seconds left to frustrate the Builders.

Hog’s Breath Cafe and Arellano will also start their campaign at 2 p.m. with Hog’s Breath putting together a solid group of D-League veterans featuring Francis Allera, Paul Sanga and Joseph Terso, among others.

Fresh from a failed NCAA stint, the Chiefs will have Isiah Ciriacruz, Jeremy Bartolo, John Marco Tayongtong and Rocky Acidre as they try to capitalize on their height advantage and speed.

With Christopher Exciminiano, Eliud Poligrates, Rodrigue Ebondo and Josan Michael Nimes, the Bakers will try to bounce back from 74-83 defeat they absorbed from the Rising Suns last week.

They will have to do it against a Cebuana side strengthened by UE king Warrior Roi Sumang, James Martinez, Paul Zamar, Raymond Aguilar and Kristopher Louie Alas.