Looking to overcome its early struggles, Hapee tries to stay inside the top six when it tacklesTanduay Light in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Fresh Fighters—the champions of the last tournament who had to deal with the absence of several key cogs —go for back-to-back wins in the 3 p.m. encounter with their San Beda players back in the fold.
“We are on the brink right now. We’re just hoping to survive,” coach Ronnie Magsanoc said after his Fresh Fighters outlasted Cafe France in overtime, 75-72, with the return of the Lions led by Ola Adeogun and Art dela Cruz.
The Fresh Fighters dropped three of their first five assignments before improving to fifth place at 3-3 with last week’s crucial win.
Cagayan Valley, running third with a 4-3 slate, fights to stay in the running for the last outright semifinal berth in its 1 p.m. match against the cellar-dwelling Liver Marin.
Unbeaten Cebuana Lhuillier (7-0) has already secured an automatic Final Four stint, while Cafe France (6-2) is assured of at least a playoff for a semifinal berth.
Only the top two teams at the end of the single-round eliminations will jump straight to the semifinals, while the next four will tangle in the quarterfinals.
The standout Lions, who missed the Fresh Fighters’ early games due to school commitments, shone right on their return.
Dela Cruz topscored with 18 points, including the go-ahead basket in overtime, while Adeogun forced the extra period with a tip-in versus the Bakers.
And the Fresh Fighters know it’s another must-win as a loss will push them down to seventh place.