Marinero, Adalem seek semis

Games today: (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 9 a.m. — Marinero vs CEU 11 a.m. — Adalem vs UST

Adalem Construction-St. Clare and Marinerong Pilipino are determined to make a quick semifinal entry as the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) D-League Aspirants’ Cup quarterfinal kicks off today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The third seed Saints will use their twice-to-beat advantage against Builders Warehouse-UST in the main game at 11 a.m. following the 9 a.m. tussle between fourth seed Skippers and Centro Escolar University.

After finishing the elimination round with a 4-3 card, Adalem tactician Jinino Manansala said it will be an uphill battle for them as they face a familiar team in the Tigers.

Manansala coached UST in the previous season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines before calling the shots for the Saints.

The Saints and the Tigers figured in an intense preliminaries battle before Adalem eked out a thrilling 87-86 victory.

“The way UST is playing right now, they’re on a roll so we need to prepare well against them,” said Manansala, banking on the backcourt tandem of Joshua Fontanilla and Johnsherick Estrada.

Marinerong Pilipino, meanwhile, wants to go all-out in their bid to make another Final Four appearance.

Skippers strategist Yong Garcia said the team will now have extra firepower as Jollo Go will finally join them since leaving the Blackwater a few weeks ago.

The hot-shooting Go is expected to unleash his lethal offense when he pairs up with playmaker Juan Gomez de Liano and big man Kenmark Carino.

“Even if we didn’t get the number two spot, what’s important is that we still have an advantage and we can’t waste it,” Garcia said.