Fruitas guns for fifth win in PBA D-League

Games today (Ynares Arena)

2 p.m. – Fruitas vs EA Regen

4 p.m. – Jumbo Plastic vs Cebuana Lhuillier

MANILA, Philippines - Fruitas hopes to sustain its charge as it plays a resurgent EA Regen side while Cebuana Lhuillier tries to stay in the hunt against a struggling Jumbo Plastic in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Arena in Pasig today. 

The Shakers, in third with a 4-1 card behind Blackwater (6-1) and Café France (5-2), are coming off an 83-75 victory over corporate rival the Big Chill Superchargers last Thursday but remain wary of the tall Team Delta squad, which bounced back with back-to-back wins over Cagayan Valley and Cebuana Lhuillier. 

“We are worried about EA Regen’s size,” said Fruitas coach Nash Racela.

The Shakers will, indeed, have to find a way to contain Raymund Almazan and Ian Sanggalang, who dished out a pair of double-double outputs in the last two games, to have a good chance of winning in their 2 p.m. encounter. 

“We feel we have a good chance if we play good defense and not allow them to dominate the boards. Also we want to force them to run with us,” said Racela.

Carlo Lastimosa is Fruitas’ leading scorer with 19 points a game but he will need a lot of support – offensively – from Pong Escobal, Roger Pogoy and Grayann Mendoza.

In the other game, the Gems shoot for their fifth win in eight games against the Razorbacks at 4 p.m.