The Hapee Fresh Fighters will try to close out the Cafe France Bakers and claim their second straight championship when the two teams tangle in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals series in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup over at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City today.
In spite of all the adversities that the Fresh Fighters have faced in this tournament, they now stand within a victory away from the top after chalking up an 83-72 win in the series opener.
Cafe France can send the series to a deciding game but it must get improved play from lead guard and Cebuano ace Eliud Poligrates.
The former Southwestern University stalwart, who had played briefly in the pros, managed just 10 points on an ugly 3-of-20 shooting from the field smeared by eight misses from rainbow country.
In contrast, several aces stepped up for Hapee like Ateneo wingman, Chris Newsome, who had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Troy Rosario and Baser Amer also returned from Gilas Cadet
duty and had 11 apiece while another national team member, Scottie Thompson, pitched in 10. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio