Cagayan, Hapee open bid for final

MANILA, Philippines - Cagayan Valley and Hapee hope to hurdle the last block leading to their projected title showdown as they take on Cebuana Lhuillier and Café France, respectively, at the start of the PBA Aspirants’ Cup semifinals at the Ynares Arena in Pasig today.

The Rising Suns, who upended the Fresh Fighters in a duel of unbeaten teams to sweep the elims, battle the Gems at 4 p.m. after the 2 p.m. opener between the No. 2 Fresh Fighters and the Bakers.

Cebuana Lhuillier and Café France pulled through in a pair of sudden deaths to make it to the semis but the Gems and the Bakers will need to double their effort to stop the highly-anticipated Cagayan-Hapee finale.

The Risings Suns defeated the Gems, 79-76, in the elims. Interestingly, the league’s top pick overall, Moala Tautuaa, wasn’t around at the time.

“With him around we’ll definitely have our hands full,” said Cebuana coach Boycie Zamar. He said his biggest worry is his team’s lack of killer instinct but hopes their entry in the Final Four will motivate his charges.

“We still don’t have the consistency that I have envisioned for the team, but we’re getting there,” said Zamar.

The Gems dished out top form to ease out twice-to-beat Jumbo Plastic but will have to buck overwhelming odds to stun the Rising Suns and crash into the finals.

Cagayan Valley is the league’s top offensive team averaging 91.82 points per game while four of its players – Tautuaa, Don Trollano, Abel Galliguez and Michael Mabulac – are averaging double figures per outing.

“We were just lucky but we hope to sustain our run in the semis,” said Cagayan coach Alvin Pua.

Like Cagayan, Hapee is fancied over Café France which it routed, 70-55, in the elims. But Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc remains wary of the Bakers, who made it to the Final Four by dispatching the Bread Story-Lyceum Pirates, 81-68.

“We have to be ready for Café France. Defense will dictate the story of the series,” said Magsanoc.

The Fresh Fighters tops the league in defense with their 59.55 points allowed per game. 

“Hopefully we’ve learned our lesson during our first meeting. Hapee is a strong team. It will be very tough for us to match up with them. So we really have to play solid for 40 minutes. Everybody must contribute here and there. Eight players can’t get the job done. We really need the support of our bench,” said Café France coach Egay Macaraya.