Cignal, JRU five eye share of second

MANILA, Philippines - Cignal-San Beda shoots for a share of second while Jose Rizal University tries to move up to joint fifth as they face winless Blustar Detergent and Victoria Sports, respectively, today in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Hawkeyes take on the Dragons at 1 p.m., looking for their fourth win in five starts for a share of second with the idle Café France Bakers while the Bombers square off with the Victoria Sports side at 11 a.m., confident of nailing their third win, also in five starts, for joint fifth with the Tanduay Rhum Makers.

Robert Bolick, Byron Villarias, Jason Perkins and Alfred Batino are expected to lead Cignal against a team, which has dropped its first three games in the season-opening tournament of the PBA farm league.

But Cignal coach Boyet Fernandez remains wary of their chances against the Dragons made up of Malaysia’s national team B players.

“They won before (2016 Foundation Cup) when nobody expected them to win. I will make my team ready. There are national team players in Blustar so we don’t want to underestimate them,” said Fernandez.

Meanwhile, JRU hopes to check a two-game slide with Jerard Bautista, Abdouladif Poutouochi and Paolo Pontejos out to vent their ire on Victoria Sports, down in the cellar with a 0-4 card.