Games Tuesday
(San Juan Arena)
1:40 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
2:00 p.m. – Ascof Lagundi vs Excel Roof
4:00 p.m. – Fern-C vs Cossack Blue

AFTER its impressive runner-up finish last conference, Ascof-Lagundi (formerly Pharex) hopes to nail the big one when it battles Excel Roof at the start of the 2010 PBL PG Flex-Erase Placenta Cup on Feb. 16 at The Arena in San Juan.

Though only eight players returned for another tour of duty for the Pascual Laboratories-owned squad, coach Carlo Tan remains confident of finally ending their long and tiring search for a first-ever crown in the country’s premier amateur league.

“I have eight holdovers of last year’s team and at least seven new faces, so we’re still trying to fit each one to our basketball system.

Hopefully, things will run smoothly in time for the opener,” said Tan.

Ascof-Lagundi, which forced Oracle Residences into a knockout game in their best-of-five title series, needs to prepare hard for the opening since Excel Roof is determined to make a grand show in its debut starting at 2 p.m.

Clashing in the other game at 2 p.m. are Cossack Blue and another newcomer in Fern-C. Games will be aired starting at 3:30 on Basketball TV.