PBA D-League: Blackwater, Jumbo play KO for semifinal berth

MANILA, Philippines — Blackwater Sports coach Leo Isaac thinks advantage has shifted in his team’s favor as the Elite shoot for the last semifinal slot against Jumbo Plastic in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Thursday.

The Elite, who escaped elimination in the last three games, vie to overcome the Giants’ twice-to-beat advantage in the lone knockout quarterfinal match at 3 p.m. at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

“We’re on equal footing, but mentally, we have erased their advantage and that will be good for us,” said Isaac. “Momentum is on our side and it will be hard to stop because you have only one day to prepare. On our part, we’re trying to convince the players that we can beat Jumbo.”

Last Tuesday, the Elite spoiled the No. 3 Giants’ first try to nail a Final Four berth with a convincing 86-78 triumph.

The winner in the Elite-Giants series will go up against the second-seeded Big Chill in the best-of-three semifinal round starting Tuesday.

Top-ranked NLEX will clash in the other pairing with No. 4 Hog’s Breath Cafe, which advanced to the semifinals last Tuesday after a come-from-behind thriller, 82-79, versus Cagayan Valley.

“Somehow, the luxury of the twice-to-beat advantage prompted the players to relax a bit,” said Giants deputy coach Joel Dualan. “But the players are still in high spirits. We’re positive that we can bounce back.”

The Elite, the champion last conference who scrambled to claim the last quarterfinal slot, flashed their old dominant form against the Giants to keep their title hopes alive.

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