Hog’s Breath shoots for 5th victory

Two teams whose core clashed in a recent title series try to stretch their perfect run in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup today at Blue Eagle Gym.

Hog’s Breath Cafe shoots for a fifth consecutive win against an NLEX side gunning for a fourth straight in a 2 p.m. duel that’s shaping to be a rematch of this season’s NCAA finals.

But coach Caloy Garcia, who mentors both the Razorbacks and the Letran Knights, doesn’t see the need to use payback as motivation.

The San Beda Red Lions, whose stars are also seeing action with NLEX, outlasted the Knights in a gripping title series just two weeks ago to bag their fourth NCAA crown.

“It’s over, we can’t do anything about that,” said Garcia, who’ll go up against NLEX and San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “This is a different league, the teams are also different. NLEX is just another game for us.”

Jumbo Plastic, also riding a strong start at 4-1, takes on Wangs Basketball in the first game at 10 a.m.

Struggling teams Arellano-Air21 and Derulo Accelero tangle in the next match at noon.

Fernandez said Road Warriors may be in for a tough outing versus the streaky Razorbacks.

“They are the league’s top offensive team, so it will be a very interesting matchup,” said Fernandez.

Just last Tuesday, the Razorbacks blasted Cebuana Lhuillier by 24 points, 93-69, behind Philip Paniamogan’s hot shooting.

Garcia hopes his Razorbacks can sustain their sizzling form versus the Road Warriors, which he describes as a virtual national team.

Aside from the core of San Beda, the Road Warriors also boast several players set to compete in the Southeast Asian Games led by Matt Ganuelas, Kevin Alas and Ronald Pascual.

“I don’t know if we’ll shoot the same way we shot [last Tuesday],” said Garcia. “They’re a huge team, they’re the RP Team. We just have to stop their bigs. That’s what we have to do.”