Ni: Marivic Awitan

Laro Ngayon

(Ynares Sports Arena)

5 n.h. -- Cignal HD vs CEU

'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!

ITUTULOY ng Centro Escolar University ang nakagugulat na kampanya sa pakikipagtuos sa liyamadong Cignal HD sa Game 1 ng kanilang best-of-three title series sa 2017 PBA D-League Foundation Cup ngayong hapon sa Ynares Sports Arena sa Pasig.

Ngunit hindi pa man nagsisimula ang duwelo, problemado na si Hawkeyes coach Boyet Fernandez dahil sa pagkawala ni Raymar Jose na tumutupad ng kanyang obligasyon sa Gilas Pilipinas sa ginaganap na 2017 Southeast Asian Games.

“Losing Raymar during the Finals is a tough one, but we as a team understand that SEA Games basketball gold is very important to our country,” ani Fernandez.

Sa pagkawala ni Jose, sasandigan nila sa shaded lane si Jason Perkins.

Gayundin ang kanilang mga shooters na sina Pamboy Raymundo, Jonathan Uyloan, at Byron Villarias.

Hindi maalis ni Fernandez ang pag –aalal, higit at nagawang idispatsa ng Scorpions ang topseed Flying V Thunder sa kanilang cross-over semifinal series.

“We know that CEU is a very good team and well-coached, and matching up with them without Raymar is a tough one. But we will find a way to limit (Rod) Ebondo,” sambit ni Fernandez.

“I’m also worried about their guards in the likes of (Aaron) Jeruta, (Orlan) Wamar, and (JK) Casiño, so we really have to bring our defensive mentality if we want to win Game 1 and the series.”

Sa kabilang dako, hangad naman ni CEU coach Yong Garcia na magpatuloy ang nangyaring dream run para sa Scorpions.

“Wala namang nag-akala na makakaabot kami rito. Hindi naman masamang subukan kaya sabi ko sa players ko, we just try to stay focused and stick to our gameplan,” ani Garcia.