4 TEAMS EYE D-LEAGUE LEAD
The Cagayan Valley Rising Suns hope to get things going while awaiting the arrival of their number one pick.
The Rising Suns used their No. 1 overall pick to select US born Moala Tautuaa in last August’s draft. The 6-foot-7, Fil-Tongan has become the focal point of the team’s championship drive this season but he won’t be around until Nov. 16 at the latest pending the completion of his tour of duty with the Malaysian Dragons in the ASEAN Basketball League.
In the meantime, the Rising Suns try to win two in a row and gain a share of the early lead when it battles newcomer Bread Story-LPU in a 12 noon showdown kicking off Thursday’s PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup tripleheader.
The Rising Suns opened their campaign with a 94-86 win over MJM M-Builders last week. Michael Mabulac had a big game with 20 points and 13 rebounds and the Rising Suns will be counting on him again in their quest to stay unbeaten.
Bread Story-LPU made a good impression in its debut, leading for three quarters before poor shooting spoiled its effort in a 74-79 loss to leader Jumbo Plastic (2-0).
Three other teams — Café France, Tanduay Light and Hapee – expected to figure prominently for playoff spots are also playing Thursday for share of the lead.
The Bakers opened their season with an 86-59 blowout win against newcomer MP Hotel and hope to keep the momentum in their 2 o’clock encounter against another newcomer, Racal Motors.
Café France coach Egay Macaraya wasn’t impressed, though.
“Hindi pa ako tiwala sa team ko. (MP) is still feeling its way in the league so expectedly they struggled. I think the test for us is when we face the elite teams,” Macaraya noted.
Racal Motors lost its opener, 70-89, against the Cebuana Lhuilier Gems and would need to play solid to have a chance against the Bakers.
In the aftermath of their tug-of-war for the rights to rookie Chris Newsome, the 4 p.m. match-up between Tanduay Light and Hapee promises to have a playoff atmosphere.
The Rhum Masters netted Newsome with their first round pick but failed to tender him an offer within the required five days. That made the 6-3 shooting guard a free agent and allowed the Fresh Fighters to sign him up.
Both teams won their openers. Tanduay Light is coming off a 78-77 squeaker over MJM M-Builders (0-2) last Monday, thanks to AJ Mandani’s reverse shot with 3.4 seconds left while Hapee got 10 rebounds and 10 points from Garvo Lanete and dominated AMA University (0-2) on the way to a 69-61 win.
“This is an acid test for the team,” said Tanduay Light coach Lawrence Chongson.
Unfortunately, he won’t be around to guide his team after PBA Commissioner Chito Salud suspended him for one game as8de from being slapped a P150,000 fine for uttering remarks damaging to the league and member clubs. (DBC)
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