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MANILA, Philippines – Cebuana Lhuillier hopes to shine this time with a new backcourt crew as the Gems face the Boracay Rum Waves in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City today.
Lester Alvarez, Raymond Maconocido and Bacon Austria will now man the backcourt of the Gems, hoping to complement well with Kevin Alas and Simon Atkins as they seek a first-ever D-League crown.
“I think we have added quality pieces,” said Cebuana Lhuillier coach Luigi Trillo, who also acquired forwards Janus Lozada and Jeck Apinan to firm up their frontcourt.
But while acquiring new players, Trillo also lost a pair of talented guards in Jai Reyes and Terrence Romeo.
Reyes, who used to quarterback for the Gems, moved over to the Bangkok Cobras in the Asian Basketball League, while Romeo was among the five players barred from playing in the league by their school team Far Eastern U until after the UAAP season is over.
Whether the new recruits have already adjusted to Trillo’s system will be known today when the Gems and the Waves clash at 4 p.m.
Also making its debut are Café France and Erase Plantcenta, which mix it up at 2 p.m.
Trillo said it is always a challenge playing against Boracay Rum because the Waves are tough competitors, who always play hard to win.
“(Boracay Rum) coach Lawrence (Chongson) has proven time and again that his teams can win. He has added depth to his rotation. We know their forte is zone and we respect that,” Trillo said.
For the Waves to succeed, Chongson said, they must be able to match the Gems’ energy and defensive hustle.
“Going up against a more superior team like Cebuana Lhuillier, my boys have to be resilient for 40 minutes,” Chongson said. “We can’t afford to blink even for a second or the game might slip from our hands.”
Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop has been the leading pawnshop chain in the Philippines with over 1,500 branches across the country—from Aparri to Tawi-Tawi. For 25 years now, Cebuana has been true to its slogan “Walang Kapantay Magpahalaga” through the incomparable services that the company offers to its customers- this includes — pawning, local and international remittance, insurance, bills payment, e-load, collection, and foreign exchange. Founded in 1987 by the current Philippine envoy to
Portugal, Ambassador Philippe Jones Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier is currently managed by its President and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier.