AFTER a near scare against a winless squad, EA Regens Med hopes to do better with new acquisition Alex Nuyles when it battles Big Chill today in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City
Nuyles will actually play against his former team at 4 p.m. as the Regens, running fourth at 5-3, try to boost their quarterfinal campaign.
“There are more things we need to improve on,” said Regens coach Allan Trinidad. “Hopefully, the team will be better after our [one-week] rest and the arrival of Nuyles.”
Cagayan Valley and Café France, both with 5-4 records, tangle at 2 p.m.
The Regens rolled back Informatics, 88-82, last week, but Trinidad expects Nuyles to give the team more scoring options. The former Adamson standout teams up with big men Ian Sangalang and Raymond Almazan.
Nuyles, who was traded for Jeckster Apinan, was the Superchargers’ second-best scorer, averaging 12.3 points per game.
Still, Big Chill coach Robert Sison remains optimistic even as the Superchargers stand in danger of an early exit with a 5-5 record.
Only the top six teams will advance to the next round, with the top two earning outright semifinal berths.
“The players know our position, so their mind-set is to win the game,” Sison said after the Superchargers stayed in contention following a 93-73 dumping of Cebuana Lhuillier.
Cagayan Valley also expects to advance even if it’s only running fifth.