Cafe France collides with Bread Story

Games today (Ynares Arena, Pasig City) 

12 noon – Racal Motors vs Tanduay Light

2 p.m. – Café France vs Bread Story-LPU

MANILA, Philippines - Café France hopes to rebound from a blowout loss to league-leading Hapee as it clashes with Bread Story-Lyceum even as a surging Tanduay Light takes on Racal Motors in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Arena, Pasig City.

Ranged against the Fresh Fighters, the Bakers put on a strong start but just couldn’t match the former’s fiery comeback in the second half and dropped a 55-70 setback last Monday.

Still, Café France’s 5-2 mark kept the Bakers at third although they bowed out of the race for the two outright semifinal berths now secured by Hapee (7-0) and Cagayan Valley (6-0). 

“We did everything right in the first half. But sad to say, the guys forget that a basketball game is played for four quarters,” said Café France coach Egay Macaraya.

“There’s a lot of lesson that could be learned from that loss,” said Macaraya, who remained hopeful the Bakers would hurdle the Pirates in their 2 p.m. encounter.

“Bread Story-LPU is a running team. Hopefully we can catch up with them and make stops,” said Macaraya.

But Bread Story-LPU is out to improve its 2-4 card and stay in hunt for a quarterfinal spot. But they haven’t played since their 89-97 loss to AMA University last Dec. 1 and could be out of game shape.

Tanduay Light (3-4), meanwhile, guns for its third straight win as it faces Racal Motors at 12 noon.

“It’s a tough climb. We’re struggling every game so we really have to be disciplined and stay focused every game,” said Tanduay coach Lawrence Chongson.

The top two teams after the single round eliminations advance outright to the semifinals. The next four teams earn spots in the quarterfinal round with the third and fourth-ranked teams earning a twice-to-beat advantage.

The last six teams will be eliminated.