Lowly q’final rival worries No. 1 Batangas

Top seed Batangas Tanduay and No. 4 Valenzuela Yulz seek to close in on a semifinal clash as they battle separate foes at the start of the MPBL Anta Rajah Cup playoffs on Tuesday at Batangas City Coliseum.

The Batangas Athletics, who finished the elimination round with an 8-1 record, are favored against the Bataan BaiShipping Defenders in their best-of-three quarterfinal series.

The Valenzuela Classic square off with fifth seed Quezon City Royal Manila Capitals in another duel starting at 7 p.m.

Batangas coach Mac Tan is wary of No. 8 Bataan, whose veteran gunner Gary David is no stranger at pulling off upsets having carried Powerade past top seed B-Meg in the 2012 PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals.

Unbeaten in three games at home, the Athletics boast a talented squad led by ex pros Lester Alvarez and Val Acuña and former collegiate star Tey Teodoro.

“They are a dangerous team,” said Tan. “We can’t afford to be overconfident.”

Batangas won its only meeting with Bataan, 88-73, at home although David pumped in a conference-high 32 points in the defeat.