CEBU, Philippines - The Prime Asia Lending-UV Green Lancers will try to extend their winning streak to six games in a row when they take on the San Marino Tuna/CIT-U Wildcats today at the start of the second round of elimination in the Enervon CESAFI Partner's Cup 2013 men's basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Prime Asia will slug it out with San Marino in the 4 pm opener, while the listless Raphael's Cafe/USJ-R Jaguars hope to finally barge into the win column when they go up against Lion Tiger-USPF Panthers in the main offering at 5:45 pm.
After completing the first round with an unblemished 5-0 slate, Prime Asia again braces for another sweep and up to this point, there are still no indications that any team would likely prevent them from achieving it - not even their closest rival in Gaisano Capital South-UC Webmasters.
Prime Asia is eyeing a repeat of their 91-73 demolition of San Marino in the first round and with their local players dominating their rivals, there's no need yet for them to solicit offensive help from their Cameroonian twin towers in Steve Cedrick Akomo and Mike Harry Nzensseu.
Reigning CESAFI MVP Wowie Escocio will once again be at the forefront of Prime Asia's campaign along with veteran playmaker John Michael Abad, Chris Perolino, Rhaffy Octobre, Francisco Arong, Vincent Mendoza and Alfred Codilla.
For its part, San Marino, which totes a 2-3 win-loss record, will rely heavily on the likes of Allan Dimco, Vincent Menguito, Joshua dela Cerna, Floyd Taboada and Franklyn Batiquin among others.
Raphael's Cafe, on the other hand, will be fighting with renewed vigor due to the return of Rendell Senining and Fletcher Galvez, who formed part of the Central Visayas squad that won the secondary basketball gold in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa over the weekend in Dumaguete City,
They will mix it up with the 1-4 Lion Tiger, which will bank on Joseph Sedurifa, Jomari Sollano, Art Camello, Lawrence Escanilla and Junrey Nudalo to name a few. (FREEMAN)