The Pasig-Rizal Pirates will be wary of the Surigao Warriors, the league's giant killers, when they clash in a weekend match of the Metropolitan Basketball Association FedEx Crossover Cup at 2 p.m. today at the Urios Gym in Butuan City.
In the main game at 4:30 p.m., the Batangas Blades need a big win against the Socsargen Marlins to shore up their hometown support at the Sentrum de La Salle gym in Lipa City.
The Pirates are gunning for their third victory in four outings. But they will be up against one of only two teams which defeated defending national champion the Manila Metrostars.
With Fil-Am recruit Dorian Peña still in injury bay, Pasig-Rizal will lean on rookie sensation Warren Ybanez and new recruit Malai Malabanan to support mainstays Gilbert Castillo, Patrick Benedicto, Jonathan de Guzman and John Dumont.
Playing in only his third outing as a pro, Ybanez exploded with a career-high 25 markers last weekend to lead the Pirates to a come-from-behind 79-75 victory over the visiting Socsargen Marlins.
While Pasig-Rizal leads Surigao, 2-0, in their career head-to-head tally, the Warriors have had flashes of brilliance at home, especially when ranged against top teams, since the Sen. Robert Barbers-backed franchise joined the MBA last year.
The Warriors have scored the mother of all upsets yet this season -- an 89-80 stunner over Manila last Feb. 26 at the Urios gym.
Surigao will count on former Laguna Lakers Richard Melencio and Ramon Regidor and All-Star Apollo Lim for its offense and on ageless wonder Manny Victorino for veteran savvy.
In the main header, Socsargen also badly needs a victory to keep its title aspirations alive. Head coach Willy Generalao hopes main man Max Delantes will get the scoring support from his teammates to be able to stem the assault of the Eddie Laure-led Blades (1-2).
The LBC-backed Batangas team lost its opening home game at Lipa against Davao last month but went 1-1 on its first road swing.