ALL EYES ON TAUTUAA AS CAGAYAN TAKES ON CAFE FRANCE

Moala Tautuaa could not have come a better time.

After missing his team’s first three games, the 6-foot-7, U.S. born Fil-Tongan makes his debut for Cagayan Valley as the Rising Suns battle the Café France Bakers on Thursday in a match-up of unbeaten teams in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.

Cagayan Valley selected Tautuaa with its No.1 pick in the Draft and made him the focal point in its quest to win their first championship this season.

“We’re pretty excited to have him on the team. (Café France) is a tough team but I think Moala’s presence will make a difference,” said guard Abel Galliguez, who had 22 points off the bench to help the Rising Suns rally from 17 points down to beat Cabuana Lhuillier, 79-76, last week for their third straight win.

Game time is 2 o’clock at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.

In the other games, Tanduay Light (1-2) and and Cebuana Lhuillier (1-2) – two teams coming off successive defeats – face each other at 12 noon while Jumbo Plastic (2-1) tries to get back on the winning track  when it takes on Wangs Basketball (2-1) at 4 p.m.

Moala is coming off a stint with the Malaysian Dragons which lost to the Hi-Tech Bangkok City in the Asean Basketball League Finals.

“It hurts. I wanted that,” said Tautuaa after he and the Dragons were swept in the Finals. “I always step on the court looking for a title. I don’t see how this is going to be different this time.”

Michael Mabulac and Don Trollano average 18 and 15 points a game and the presence of Tautuaa should make the Rising Suns a tough challenge for the Bakers, who are coming off a 66-61 victory over Jumbo Plastic last week.

“They’re a big team. But I think we can match up with them. The key for us is our defense and our ability to play consistent,” said Café France coach Egay Macaraya. (DBC)

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