PBA: Ateneo, AMA Online seek redemption

Games Thursday (Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig)
12 p.m. – Cignal-Ateneo vs AMA Online Education
2 p.m. – Wangs Basketball vs Marinerong Pilipino
4 p.m. – Chadao-FEU vs The Masterpiece Clothing-Trinity

Cignal-Ateneo and AMA Online Education seek bounce back wins when they collide in the 2019 PBA D-League on Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Both teams are coming off tough defeats and would love nothing but to get back to their winning ways in this Aspirants Group tussle at 12 p.m.

The Blue Eagles are seeking to make up for their tough 112-98 loss to UST last week.

Matthew Daves vs Sherwin Concepion (PBA Images)
Matthew Daves vs Sherwin Concepion (PBA Images)

Thirdy Ravena, who made his PBA D-League debut in that game, offered no excuses for his side as Cignal-Ateneo allowed the opposition to shoot 43-percent from threes.

“It happens. May instances talaga sa games na marami kaming nagagawang mali na hindi namin naaayos throughout the game. But those lessons really come in basketball, and we have to understand na kailangan namin matuto sa mga nangyayari sa amin, whether it’s good or bad. Ang importante lang matuto kami,” he said.

The Blue Eagles will lean on Ravena, Matt Nieto, and Isaac Go to lead them back to a win.

Ivorian big man Ange Kouame, who missed the last game, is also expected to be back in action for Cignal-Ateneo as it seeks to rise from its 2-1 slate.

But it won’t be an easy one, especially with Joshua Munzon averaging 42.0 points in his last two games for AMA.

Unfortunately, both of those ended in losses, the last of which being a 108-91 Titans’ defeat to Petron-Letran last March 5.

Munzon, together with Franky Johnson and Troy Rike, are hoping to snap AMA’s two-game losing skid to improve its 1-2 record.

Meanwhile, Marinerong Pilipino is looking to make it three straight wins when it faces Wangs Basketball at 2 p.m., as skidding Foundation Group squads Chadao-FEU and The Masterpiece Clothing-Trinity try to snap their skids at 4 p.m.