Games today (San Juan Arena)
2 p.m. – Freego Jeans vs Cebuana Lhuillier
4 p.m. – Big Chill vs NLEX

CAN NLEX and Cebuana Lhuillier set the stage for another title rematch?

That’s the challenge facing the Road Warriors and Gems as they start their respective semifinal series today in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.

The two teams, which battled for the Foundation Cup championship eventually won by NLEX during the league’s inaugural, are two games away from making another finals appearance.

The Road Warriors looked unbeatable during its seven-game winning streak closing out the elimination round. But NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez has remained cautious, contending their series against Big Chill will not be a walk in the park.

“The truth is, Big Chill is a very formidable team. We’re the top team of the eliminations, but we have no advantage over them,” Fernandez said.

NLEX and Big Chill open their best-of-three series at 4 o’clock at the San Juan Arena. It follows the other semifinal duel between Cebuana Lhuillier and Freego Jeans scheduled at 2 p.m. 

The Super Chargers dealt the Road Warriors their lone defeat in the eliminations, an 85-83 decision marred by ejections and technical fouls from both sides.

Fernandez said he expects this series to be as heated as their first encounter.

“I expect Big Chill to play very physical and rough. I just hope what had happened in our first meeting will not happen in the playoffs,” warned Fernandez, who called on the referees to be strict on unnecessary roughness.

Big Chill coach Arsenio Dysangco readily conceded that they are overmatched against their top-seed opponent and their depleted frontline (6-6 Jefferson Morillo and 6-4 Raffy Mangahas are out with injuries) adds up to their miseries.

“NLEX is a very deep team. I don’t think we could match up with them. We just have to dig deep and try to find a way to win,” Dysangco said.

In contrast, Freego Jeans coach Leo Austria believes they can match-up well against second-seed Cebuana Lhuillier, even suggesting that his troops are eager to play in the Finals.

Freego Jeans beat Cebuana Lhuillier, 71-66, in the elimination round.

To put more emphasis, Austria said their lopsided 87-63 victory against Boracay Rum in the quarterfinals was a statement game of sort.

“I hope our opponents would realize that they can’t take us lightly,” he said.