Jumbo Plastic, Lhuillier clash for lead

Games today (Ynares Arena, Pasig City)

12 noon – Hapee vs AMA

2 p.m. – Jumbo Plastic vs Cebuana Lhuillier

4 p.m. – MJM M-Builders vs Tanduay Light

MANILA, Philippines - Jumbo Plastic’s scrambling victory last Thursday apparently alarmed coach Stevenson Tiu. So he’s gathering his troops back to the drawing board.

Tiu is convinced the Giants need a quick fix and hopefully they would be a lot better for today’s matchup against Cebuana Lhuillier as the two teams dispute the solo lead in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup. Game time is 2 p.m.

The other games pit Hapee against fellow newcomer AMA University at 12 noon and Tanduay Light against MJM Builders at 4 p.m.

The Giants played catch up for most part of their season opener against newcomer Bread Story and needed to summon their experience in the fourth quarter to escape with a 79-74 come-from-behind victory.

“We played individually and forgot the team concept. We also played lousy on defense. Talagang sa experience lang nagkatalo,” Tiu said.

“Hopefully, we can make the adjustments with the short time we have. If we play the way we did (against Bread Story) we’re in big trouble.”

The Giants will miss  forward Jan Colina, out with a shoulder injury.

Cebuana  Lhuillier opened its campaign with an 89-70 blowout over newcomer Racal Motors. But Boycie Zamar, the Gems’ coach, knows their next assignment would not be as easy.

“They are (Giants) a deep team. So we have to take it one game at a time,” Zamar said.

With an overhauled lineup, Zamar hoped the Gems would improve on its standings last conference.

 So we have to get better every practice, every possession, every game,”   he said.

The Gems will again be without injured forward Kevin Ferrer and 6-7 center Norberto Torres, who is barred from playing pending the completion of his documents required for Fil-foreign players.

Hapee is fancied to be the team to beat with its star-studded roster and a wealth of big men led by  6-foot-9 Ola Adeogun.  Also on the team are shooters Garvo Lanete, Bobby Ray Parks and Chris Newsome.

Against a Titans team that is still feeling its way in the league, the Fresh Fighters should encounter little trouble. AMA is coming off a 78-96 beating against Wangs Ball Club on opening day last week.

In contrast, the Tanduay Light-MJM Builders game promises to be a thriller.

“If there’s one advantage that maybe we have (against MJM Builders) it’s experience. I got some ex-pros in my team that hopefully I can rely on to lead the younger guys,” said Tanduay Light coach Lawrence Chongson.

But while he likes their chances, Chongson admitted the Builders’ size and familiarity with each other might be their biggest obstacle.

The Builders are trying to bounce back from an 86-94 loss against Cagayan Valley last Thursday.