HAPEE and Cagayan Valley may own a twice-to-beat edge in their respective quarterfinal PBA D-League Foundation Cup clashes, but that doesn’t mean reaching the next round will be easier for the Fresh Fighters and the Rising Suns Monday.
With both Jumbo Plastic and AMA University flashing sharp form of late, the Fresh Fighters and Rising Suns will have their hands full as they gun for spots in the Final Four at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Hapee-Jumbo clash is set at 1 p.m. followed by the Cagayan-AMA duel at 3.
Cebuana Lhuillier and Café France are already in the semifinals after finishing 1-2 in the elimination round.
Although they took the quarterfinal bonus due to their superior record in the elimination round, the odds will be tougher for the Fresh Fighters whose lineup has been weakened by the departure of Ray Parks.
Parks is chasing his NBA dream in the United States while stalwarts like Scott Thompson, Troy Rosario and Baser Amer have been struggling to get practice time with the team due to their commitment with Sinag Pilipinas.
The Giants stunned the Fresh Fighters, 64-61, in the elimination round but Giants coach Steveson Tiu expects a far difficult time now that 6-foot-7 Ola Adeogun will be playing for Hapee.
The Rising Suns will enter the match high on confidence after beating the Gems, 102-95, last Monday. Cagayan stunned the Titans, 75-70, in the eliminations.