Stags glued on semis spot

SPORTS

Red-hot Apex Fuel-San Sebastian College aims to inch closer to the outright semifinal spot when it battles skidding Wangs-Letran in the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) D-League Aspirants Cup today at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Action fires off at 3 p.m. with the streaking Stags looking to sustain their momentum going into the final stretch of eliminations.

Centro Escolar University (CEU), meanwhile, looks to improve its chances of grabbing a playoff spot when it faces Marinerong Pilipino in the 1 p.m. curtain-raiser.

With only two matchdays left, San Sebastian is leading the pack with 4-1 card and is in prime position to finish as one of the top two squads with an outright semifinals berth.

Only the top six teams will advance to the next round, with the No. 3 and 4 teams enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage against the fifth and sixth squads.

The Skippers and EcoOil-La Salle are at second place with identical 4-2 record, while the Knights are at third with three wins in five games.

Adalem Construction and the Scorpions are also tied at 3-3 while Builders Warehouse-UST still has the chance at 2-4.

Stags head coach Edgar Macaraya said he is very satisfied with how his wards are playing, especially after they posted a four-game winning streak.

And with a familiar collegiate rival in Letran at the opposite end, Macaraya is confident that his players will come out roaring for another victory.

In fact, during their previous game against CEU, James Una and Jacob Shanoda combined for 30 points while playmaker Ichie Altamirano dropped 11 markers to build enough confidence that they can use against the Knights — the reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association champions.

"They really have the will to win. These kids are playing tremendously and they really want to prove something here," said Macaraya, wary of the dangerous Knights bannered by Fran Yu, King Caralipio, Brent Paraiso and Kurt Reyson.