UST, St. Clare clash in virtual playoff

Games today (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)

12 p.m. – Valencia City Bukidnon vs CD14 Designs-Trinity

2 p.m. – AMA Online Education vs Family Mart-Enderun

4 p.m. – Ironcon-UST vs St. Clare College Virtual Reality

MANILA, Philippines — Ironcon-UST and St. Clare College Virtual Reality face off in a crucial Aspirants Group duel today in the 2019 PBA D-League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Tip off is 4 p.m. in the all-important duel, which could make or break both teams’ playoff fates.

Valencia City Bukidnon-SSCR (6-1) aims to close in on the top spot in the Foundation Group when it battles winless CD14 Designs-Trinity (0-8) at 12 p.m., while AMA Online Education (2-5) and Batangas-EAC (2-7) fight for pride at 2 p.m.

The Growling Tigers have been struggling as of late, losing two of their last three games to drop to 5-2 (win-loss).

Those struggles couldn’t get any more evident than in their 92-80 defeat to Che’Lu Bar and Grill last May 6.

Coach Aldin Ayo understands the situation Ironcon-UST is in, and he hopes to draw better performances from young guns Soulemane Chabi Yo, Rhenz Abando and Mark Nonoy anew.

“Yun naman ang inaayos natin, yung sistema. Bata pa rin ang team kaya kailangan namin maranasan yung mga ganitong hardships,” he said.

Meanwhile, St. Clare has gotten its foot back on track with a 93-82 win over McDavid last May 2 to improve to a 5-2 record.

St. Clare coach Jinio Manansala is glad on how the Saints have held themselves in this late chase, with Junjie Hallare and Darwin Lunor leading the break.

“Tuloy lang namin ang trabaho namin. Ready kami laban sa UST. Hindi kami pwedeng magpabaya at ibibigay lang namin ang best namin,” he said.