Batangas, Marinero in D-League quarters quest

Games Today (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City) 1 p.m. – Marinerong Pilipino vs AMA 3 p.m. – Racal Motors vs Tanduay 5 p.m. – Batangas vs Gamboa Coffee

Batangas and Marinerong Pilipino shoot for quarterfinal berths when they face lowly opponents today to highlight a rare tripleheader in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The two teams are favored to punch their tickets to the next phase, with Batangas facing Gamboa Coffee Mix at 5 p.m. and Marinerong Pilipino meeting AMA Online Education in the 1 p.m. curtain raiser.

But Batangas and Marinerong Pilipino are not treating their respective foes – with just one victory apiece – lightly, knowing that such mentality could derail their bids.

Batangas is eyeing a breakthrough quarters berth in just its second conference. The Eric Gonzales-mentored squad is in fourth place at 5-3, a marked improvement from winning just three games in the Aspirants' Cup.

Cedrick Ablaza, Jhaps Bautista and Cedric de Joya, among others, are expected to raise their games a notch higher after Joseph Sedurifa, one of Batangas' top players, was called up by the Meralco Bolts in the PBA.

Gonzales, however, expressed satisfaction in his team's performance sans the former Centro Escolar University standout.

“Thankful ako sa mga players na kahit wala si Joseph, sabi ko gawin natin siyang inspirasyon. We are better together so masaya ako na nag-respond sila,” said Gonzales after Batangas' 95-90 win over Racal Motors last week.

Meanwhile, Marinerong Pilipino can complete its amazing turnaround after starting the conference with a 1-4 record.

The Skippers won four straight games, including come-from-behind victories over Racal and Wang's Basketball, with ex-pro Mark Isip leading the charge.