Photo by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines—Skidding Blackwater and RnW Pacific Pipes try to stay alive when they tangle in the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup Tuesday.
Both toting 4-5 records, the Elite and the Steel Masters dispute the last quarterfinal berth on the final day of the elimination round at 4 p.m. at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Café France still has a chance of forging a playoff for the last quarterfinal slot, but the Bakers need to overcome the powerhouse NLEX squad in the first game at 2 p.m.
For the three struggling squads, how to regain their confidence remain a prime concern.
“I just hope that we could be motivated after losing those back-to-back games,” said Pacific Pipes coach Topex Robinson, who’s relying on Fil-Ams Jordan Sanvictores and JR Buensuceso, Raymond Ilagan and Michael Miranda.
The Elite, powered by the Ciriacruz brothers Gio and Ice, Mark Bringas and Clark Bautista, also hope to revive a campaign that went downhill after a promising 3-0 start.
After dropping six straight games—the last a 72-66 decision to Cobra Energy Drink last week—the Elite got a reprieve when PBA commissioner Chito Salud nullified Cobra’s victory for fielding an ineligible player.
The Bakers also admit they face a daunting task against the defending champion Road Warriors.
Both NLEX (8-1) and Cebuana Lhuillier
(8-2) already earned outright semifinal berths as incentive for topping the eliminations.
Freego Jeans and Big Chill, tied at 7-3, clinched the twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals. Boracay Rum (5-5) also advanced.