MANILA, Philippines — Go for Gold and Centro Escolar U tangle today in a duel of top contenders while Marinerong Pilipino-Technological Institute of the Philippines faces Batangas-Emilio Aguinaldo College in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig today.
The resurgent Scratchers checked a startling two-game slide with a 135-91 demolition of the also-ran AMA Titans the last time out for a 5-2 card. Another victory over the Scorpions would keep them in step with the idle Che’Lu Bar and Grill Revellers at the helm.
Gametime is at 1 p.m.
“I think that was a wake-up call, that we have to shape up because if we lose the next three games, we might even be ousted,” said Go for Gold coach Charles Tiu.
The Scratchers actually defeated the Scorpions, 92-83, in their first round meeting last June 14 but the latter are also coming off a bounce-back victory against Batangas-EAC Generals, 84-75, behind Orlan Wamar and Gilles Oloume and are seeking a payback against the former.
“We got blown out by Go for Gold in our first meeting. This time around, we just have to come out and be able to defend and frustrate them,” said CEU interim coach Derrick Pumaren.
The Scorpions share third spot with the Engineers at 4-3 with the latter also going all out against the Generals (3-4) in a bid to firm up their bid for the four against the Generals in their 3 p.m. match.
Marinerong Pilipino-TIP won its first two games in the second round and hopes to sustain the momentum against Batangas-EAC, which succumbed to CEU the last time out after back-to-back victories.
Trevis Jackson and Robbie Manalang are expected to carry the cudgels for the Engineers, who will be gunning for a repeat of their 106-64 romp over the Generals in the first round.