Cagayan Valley unveils its prized recruit against Cafe France today as both teams seek a piece of the lead in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Rising Suns and the Bakers, both unbeaten in three games, vie to join idle Hapee on top in their 2 p.m. match with Cagayan finally fielding Filipino-Tongan Moala Tautuaa, this season’s No. 1 Rookie Draft pick.
“We’re very excited because Moala will solve our being undersized,” Cagayan guard Abel Galliguez said of the 6-foot-7 Tautuaa, who just came from a finals stint with Malaysia Dragons in the Asean Basketball League (ABL).
Cafe France coach Egay Macaraya said his Bakers expect a tough time, adding that he’s hoping Tautuaa, who arrived only last weekend, has yet to blend with his new team.
“There are only two things—he helps the team or he doesn’t jell with the team,” said Macaraya. “So we hope for the bad, not the best, because we know how dominant Tautuaa can be.”
In other games, Jumbo Plastic tries to rebound from its first loss when it faces Wangs at 4 p.m., while Tanduay Light and Cebuana Lhuillier shoot for a second victory at 12 noon.