MARINERONG Pilipino-San Beda University and Centro Escolar University do not want to see their campaign end and go on a summer vacation–they’re here for the title.
Which team can fulfill that goal will be known when the Red Lions and Scorpions clash today in Game 3 of their best-of-3 semifinals duel in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The game is set at 7:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to the race-to-2 finals opposite reigning two-time champion EcoOil-La Salle next week at a venue still to be announced by the league.
Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda coach Yuri Escueta is unfazed by CEU’s equally formidable line-up.
“Labang lang. Wala kaming 7-footer at Class A na import (the Scorpions’ Abdul-Wahab Olusesi),” Escueta said. “Of course, they have good locals also and they’re well-coached by coach Jeff (Perlas). Hindi na nakakagulat na championship team sila.
“Our mantra is to just play better and smarter than the past two games we played,” he added.
CEU tamed the Lions 75-71 in the first game, but Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda recovered with an 84-76 win in Game 2 last Tuesday to forge the rubber match between the two collegiate champions.
Overall, it’s the first win for the Lions over the Scorpions this conference after Escueta’s wards absorbed a 63-72 setback in the eliminations.
“We expected that San Beda would be a different team come playoff time,” Perlas said. “We have to dig in more and believe that we still can do this.”
The likes of Franz Diaz, Daniel Marcelo, and Jerome Santos are expected to show the way for CEU.
Now that they finally got one, repeating it would be an even tougher mission for Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda.
Behind the efforts of Yukien Andrada, Joe Celzo and Jomel Puno, the Lions succeeded in neutralizing Olusesi in Game 2 where he was limited to nine points although he grabbed 13 rebounds and had three blocks.
The Lions will pin their hopes on Bryan Sajonia, James Payosing, Nygel Gonzales, and Emmanuel Tagle.
