Letran, SBU renew rivalry

Games Thursday (Ynares Sports Arena) 2 p.m. – Marinerong Pilipino-san Beda vs Wangs Basketball @27 Strikersletran 4 p.m. – Ecooil-la Salle vs Perpetual

Top-seed Marinerong Pilipino-san Beda renews its rivalry with Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers-letran while reigning champion Ecooil-la Salle tangles with the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Thursday to start their respective semifinal series in the 2023 PBA D-league Aspirants’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Game 1 of the best-of-three series between the Red Lions and the Knights is set at

2 p.m. before the Green Archers test the mettle of the Altas at 4 o’clock.

For earning an outright passage into the Final Four, San Beda and La Salle are enjoying the luxury of a weeklong break that enabled them to rest and recover.

But momentum will be on the side of Perpetual and Letran, who both survived stiff challenges from their respective rivals in a thrilling quarterfinals on Tuesday.

“Hindi kaming pwedeng mag-relax kasi dito sa PBA D-league playoffs, tumataas ang laro so dapat makasabay kami doon. We expect the games to be tougher. There’s no room to relax,” said San Beda mentor Yuri Escueta.

La Salle deputy coach Guan Nazario agrees.

“We know that there will be ups and downs but it’s a chance for us to get better,” Nazario quipped.

Letran needed to work overtime to defeat Centro Escolar University, 94-87, while Perpetual fended off PSP Gymers, 97-90.