Cagayan, Hapee face lowly foes

Games Monday (Marikina Sports Complex) 10 a.m. – Wangs Basketball vs MJM-Builders 12 noon – Hapee vs MP Hotel 2 p.m. – Cagayan Valley vs Racal Motors

MANILA, Philippines - Hapee and Cagayan Valley look to stay unbeaten heading to the Christmas break as they face separate lowly opponents at resumption of action in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Marikina Sports Complex in Marikina today.

The Fresh Fighters take on the MP Hotel Warriors (1-6) at 12 noon, seeking their eighth straight victory and the first outright semifinal seat while the Rising Suns gun for their seventh win in row against the Racal Motors Alibaba (2-5) at 2 p.m.

Odds are heavily stacked on the league’s only two unbeaten teams although a reversal is not being ruled out.

But MP Hotel, with only a win to show in eight games, must come up with a gem of a game to at least measure up to a streaking Hapee side.

“They are a dangerous team. All their losses are close games so we can’t take them lightly. We can’t afford to overlook this team. No team in the D-League is a lightweight,” said Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc of their match-up against MP Hotel.

Off to their best start in nearly two years, the Rising Suns remain the favorites even without their coach Alvin Pua, who was sacked for three games and fined P50,000 by PBA commissioner Chito Salud for physically contacting a game official at the halftime break of their 82-74 victory against Jumbo Plastic Monday last week.

In the other game, struggling teams Wangs Basketball (2-4) and MJM Builders (1-6) collide at 10 a.m.

The Couriers and the Builders are both on a three-game skid and are hard pressed to sweep their remaining assignments to advance to the next round.