TOP-SEEDED Cebuana Lhuillier expects a depleted but hard-fighting Hapee when they collide at the start of their semifinal series in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup Monday.
“They (Fresh Fighters) lack players, but they’re playing as a unit, as a team.” said Gems coach Boycie Zamar.
The Gems and the Fresh Fighters, who just lost three more players to the national team, kick off their best-of-three duel at 1 p.m. at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
No. 2 Cafe France and Cagayan Valley, which has also made the banning of its coach a rallying point, clash at 3 p.m.
After losing former MVPs Ray Parks, who is in the US and the injured Garvo Lanete, the Fresh Fighters lost Troy Rosario, Baser Amer and Scottie Thompson to the Gilas Pilipinas cadet team that will defend the basketball gold in the Southeast Asian Games.
But the Fresh Fighters have vowed to put up a good fight with a squad led by Art dela Cruz, Chris Newsome and Ola Adeogun.
The Gems, meanwhile, streaked to a 7-0 start to clinch an outright semifinal berth.
Cafe France coach Egay Macaraya also expects his Bakers to rise to the challenge even as the Rising Suns try to survive without coach Alvin Pua, who was banned for life for assaulting a referee.