Jiovani Jalalon of Breadstory (light) vs Jessie Saitanan of Racal (dark). PBA D-LEAGUE IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
CAGAYAN Valley goes for an 11-game sweep even as Bread Story-Lyceum shoots for the last quarterfinal berth on the final day of eliminations in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup today.
After shocking heavyweight Hapee, the Rising Suns hope to wrap up their run with a victory over the eliminated Wangs at 4 p.m. at Marikina Sports Complex.
“It will give us confidence going into the semifinals,” Cagayan’s Fil-Am guard Abel Galliguez said as the Rising Suns vie to stay unbeaten heading into the Final Four.
The Pirates, meanwhile, try to complete the quarterfinal cast against the also-ran Racal Motors in the first game at 2 p.m.
A win gives Bread Story-Lyceum a tie for sixth place at 5-6 with idle Tanduay Light, but the Pirates will clinch the last quarterfinal slot due to the winner-over-the-other tiebreak rule.
The Pirates narrowly defeated the Rhum Masters, 69-64, in their lone elimination meeting last Nov. 13.
“We can’t underestimate [Racal],” said Pirates coach Bonnie Tan. “Hopefully we can match their intensity.”
Cagayan Valley (10-0) and Hapee (10-1) have earlier clinched outright semifinal berths after securing the top two spots.
While the two leaders wait, the next four squads will clash in the quarterfinals with Cafe France (9-2) and Jumbo Plastic (7-4) toting twice-to-beat incentives over Cebuana Lhuillier (7-4) and the sixth seed.
“This is where we’ll see if the team has character, if we can bounce back after a loss,” said Tan, who’s banking on Jiovani Jalalon, Louie Vigil and Aziz Mbomiko.
The Pirates could have boosted their quarterfinal chances last week, but wound up absorbing a 78-90 loss to the Gems.