MPBL teams hope to get back on track

Games Tuesday (Ynares Sports Arena)
4 p.m. – Marikina vs Binan City
6:30 p.m. – Bataan vs Imus
8:30 p.m. – Bacoor vs Rizal

SIX teams, all coming off from losses, will try to bounce back on the winning track and try to change their fortunes in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Lakan Season Tuesday. Only three of them will survive.

No team will enjoy a home court advantage as the games will be held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City and squads will try to make their move and avoid falling deeper in the team standings.

Of the six, Marikina is the one looking to end a slump and avert the possibility of absorbing their eighth straight loss in as many games, which could surpass its longest losing skid in franchise history. The Shoemasters will be facing the Binan City Heroes at 4 p.m., hoping to finally snap that binge and lift up their confidence moving forward.

Binan City, on the other hand, lost to the Bulacan Kuyas last July 31, and they are expected to vent their ire on the Shoemasters, one of only two winless teams so far in the tournament put up by Senator Manny Pacquiao with PBA legend and former MVP Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

Bataan and Imus collide in the other game at 6:30 p.m.

The Risers are still licking the wounds of their painful overtime setback against the San Juan Knights in a game the former should have won. Bataan suffered a stinging loss against the reigning champ as the former blew an 11-point lead inside the final two-minute mark.

Head coach Jong Uichico will gather his troops anew in facing the Bandera, led by a familiar face whom he worked with in winning several championships in the past.

Jayjay Helterbrand, who played for Uichico in some of the team’s championship runs, will face his former coach in a game that is so important to both teams’ respective campaign.

Imus carries a 2-4 win-loss slate and is looking to move up several notches and keep itself in a much decent position to launch its playoff aspirations. The Bandera will be testing a Risers team that is also looking to make it to the .500 win-loss percentage and make its way back at least in the top eight.

The main game offering features Bacoor and Rizal colliding at 8:30 p.m.

For the Strikers, their recent loss against the Pasya Voyagers was unacceptable and they want to erase that stigma right away with a win against the Golden Coolers of Rizal, which has absorbed five consecutive losses.