In a series with no clear favorite, Cagayan Valley and Hapee Toothpaste brace for a gruelling title showdown for the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup starting today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Rising Suns and the Fresh Fighters, who held the top two spots all conference long, slug it out in Game 1 of the best-of-three series at 3 p.m.
“We just got lucky,” Cagayan coach Alvin Pua had said of his Rising Suns’ slim 80-77 win over the Fresh Fighters in the eliminations.
The two squads battled toe-to-toe the entire game before Fil-Am guard Abel Galliguez nailed the game-winning triple with a second left to lift the Rising Suns.
“We are looking at a defensive-oriented series,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc.
The Fresh Fighters claimed the first title berth first after sweeping Cafe France, but the No. 1 Rising Suns went through a scare from No. 6 Cebuana Lhuillier, which won Game 1 of their semifinal series to halt their 11-0 run.
Faced with a monumental upset, the Rising Suns responded in a big way as Fil-Tongan Moala Tautuaa and Galliguez delivered by winning back-to-back games to wrap it up.