APEX Fuel-San Sebastian and Marinerong Pilipino open their 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup semifinals series on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Golden Stags, the unlikely top seed this conference, are coming in well rested, but coach Egay Macaraya remains weary acknowledging the tough challenge they have to hurdle.
"Mabigat pa rin silang kalaban kaya dapat prepared pa rin kami lalo na sa depensa," said the Apex Fuel-San Sebastian mentor who will lean on his motley crew of Romel Calahat, Rhinwil Yambing, and Ichie Altamirano.
Macaraya's fears are substantiated given that the Skippers are only one of the two teams to score a victory over the Golden Stags this conference, taking the 86-64 win last July 9.
But Marinerong Pilipino coach Yong Garcia also knows well that the Apex Fuel-San Sebastian crew they're facing in the at 9 am is different from the one it played way back in opening day.
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"Mas mahirap silang kalaban kasi solid na team talaga sila at kita mo naman dun sa five-game win streak nila," said the mentor, who will once again bank on Juan Gomez de Liano, Jollo Go, and Kemark Carino for the clash.
The four-seed Skippers, though, are well prepared after their big 75-66 win over Centro Escolar University last Friday to earn their seat in the semis. (RL)
