MPBL: Cagers host winless Pirates

Games Tuesday (Muntinlupa Sports Complex)
7 p.m. – Imus vs Quezon City
9 p.m. – Muntinlupa vs Pasig

BOTH ends meet today as league-leading Muntinlupa takes on winless Pasig in the resumption of the MPBL Datu Cup.

The Angelis Resort-backed Cagers, undefeated in three starts, try to continue their streak and make their home crowd proud when they shoot for win No.4 against the Gameville-supported Pirates, who have yet to win a game in three matches.

Game time is 9 p.m. right after the match between Imus and Quezon City, two teams coming off from separate wins.

The Cagers, who hold a 3-0 record, the bets in the southern division, are out to flex their muscles on a Pirates team which was dealt by the Mandaluyong El Tigre the most terrible beating experienced by any team in the two season history of the league.

More than a week ago, Pasig was at the receiving end of the 98-55 sound beating given by Mandaluyong and the team is out to salvage some measure of pride tonight.

Unfortunately, the Pirates will be facing the hottest team in the tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former Most Valuable Player Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner, and unless Muntinlupa has plans of blowing cold, it won’t be an easy ride for the Pasig quintet.

“Wala namang sikreto sa success namin so far. Yung kagandahan lang, medyo gamay na rin ng mga players yung Sistema, tapos yung ilang mga bago, madali naman silang naka-catch up kaya maganda itinatakbo so far, ” said Muntinlupa coach Aldrin Morante.

Mainstays Allan Mangahas, Chito Jaime, Felix Apreku, Dave Moralde, Pari Llagas, Dhon Reverente and newcomer Ryan Costelo had been providing the balance in scoring and defense needed by the Cagers to gain early headway in the tournament.

Imus and Quezon City are two teams coming off from separate wins and both squads will look for their first back-to-back victories and will have to do it at each other’s expense. They both carry identical 1-2 win-loss records and a win will be a big boost to their respective campaigns in this long season where every team will have a total of 25 games each.