NLEX and Boracay Rum battle for the early lead in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup on Thursday at the Trinity University of Asia gym in Quezon City
Just two days after their conference debut, the Road Warriors get back into action at 2 p.m.
NLEX scored a morale-boosting 102-84 win over Blackwater Sports on Tuesday, but NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez warned his players not to take lightly the Waves squad led by Chris Banchero and now featuring former pro Rudy Lingganay.
“Banchero is a very good player and Lingganay stabilizes their backcourt. It was a good pick-up for them,” said Fernandez.
Boracay Rum coach Lawrence Chongson stressed that NLEX is the odds-on favourite, but the Waves are relishing the idea of scoring a stunner over the Road Warriors this early and moving ahead in the standings.
“Wala namang team ang lamang sa kanila. I don’t think we have an advantage over them but we will give them a good fight,” said Chongson, whose team is coming off a 79-69 victory over Cagayan Valley after coming back from a 19-point deficit.
In the second game, Café France also goes for a share of the early lead when it plays Hog’s Breath Café at 4 p.m.
The Bakers defeated Derulo Accelero, 90-73, in the opening game of the conference and look to join the winner of the NLEX-Boracay Rum tussle at the top of the team standings.
The Razorbacks lost to Big Chill, 73-81, on Tuesday.
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