ADALEM Construction-St. Clare is favored to hurdle AMA Online but coach Jiniño Manansala is not one to tell his charges to keep their feet off the pedal.
“Hindi puwedeng mag-relax,” Manansala said. “Every game is very important dito at kahit na nakalaban na namin sila, siyempre hindi sila puwedeng balewalain.”
The Saints seek a second straight win when they battle the Kings today in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The curtain-raiser is set at 10:30 a.m. before Apex Fuel-San Sebastian College collides with Builders Warehouse-University of Santo Tomas at12:30 p.m. seeking a breakthrough win in the season-opening conference.
Adalem Construction-St. Clare drubbed Centro Escolar University 96-76 two days ago.
The likes of NAASCU MVP Johnsherick Estrada, John Rojas, Gelo Sablan, and Senegalese center Babacar Ndong are expected to lead the Saints’ charge.
With a 0-2 slate, AMA Online is raring to atone for a sorry 84-89 loss to Wangs Basketball @26-Letran last Tuesday and will pin its hopes on Earl Ceniza, Mon Francis Palana, Randolf Cruz, and Nikon Alina.
The Golden Stags absorbed a 74-86 defeat at the hands of Marinerong Pilipino last Saturday.
But Apex Fuel-San Sebastian tactician Egay Macaraya is convinced the setback against one of the said to be title favorites would only make his team better.
“Maganda ito para sa mga bata kasi nakaka-gain sila ng experience na kailangang kailangan namin,” Macaraya said.
“So, hopefully natuto sila lalo na isa sa mga teams-to-beat iyong nakalaban namin.”
Ichie Altamirano and Raymart Escobido will be counted upon by the Stags.
Interim Growling Tigers strategist Albert Alocillo said his squad is out to make up for its 81-112 loss to EcoOil-La Salle five days ago, saying: “Alam namin na kulang kami sa tao, pero mayroon naman kaming nakita na possibilities na makakabawi kami.”
Builders Warehouse-UST will lean on veteran Sherwin Concepcion and young guns Nic Cabanero and Kean Baclaan.
