Games Thursday:
(Ynares Sports Arena)
2 p.m. — Marinero vs Letran
4 p.m. — La Salle vs Perpetual
Top-seed Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda renews its rivalry with Wangs Basketball@27 Strikers-Letran while reigning champion EcoOil-La Salle tangles with University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the semifinals of the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association D-League Aspirants’ Cup today at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Game 1 of the best-of-three series starts with the 2 p.m. duel between the Red Lions and the Knights before the Green Archers test the mettle of the Altas at 4 p.m.
For earning an outright passage into the Final Four, San Beda and La Salle enjoy the luxury of a week-long break that enables them to rest and heal.
But momentum will be on the side of Perpetual and Letran, who both survived fiery challenges from their respective rivals in a pair of thrilling quarterfinal duels on Tuesday.
“We can’t afford to take it easy because the level of competition increases in the D-League playoffs. We expect games to be tougher. There’s no room to relax,” San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said.
La Salle deputy coach Guan Nazario agrees.
“We know that there will be ups and downs but it’s a chance for us to get better,” Nazario said.
Letran needed to work overtime to defeat Centro Escolar University, 94-87, while Perpetual fended off PSP Gymers, 97-90.
“We’re very excited to face San Beda,” Letran coach Rensy Bajar said.
“They’re the No. 1 team and that motivates us. We need to stick to our defense and the culture that we have at Letran.”
Altas coach Myk Saguiguit also welcomed the challenge.
“We hope to have a good journey in our first semis stint in the D-League,” Saguiguit said.
“Of course, La Salle is the defending champion so it’s going to be a good series. We will learn a lot from this game. We’re going to bring out our best.”
