Team Rizal broke into the win column the last time it played in Biñan, Laguna more than a week ago, and the Crusaders are hoping for a fitting follow up.
Their mettle will be tested when they host the up-and-coming Mandaluyong El Tigre in the main game of the MPBL Datu Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Xentro Mall-supported Crusaders battle the Dataland-backed El Tigre at 9 p.m. right after the match between the Makati Skyscrapers and the Gen San Warriors in the other game at 7 p.m.
But while the Crusaders are looking for a follow up win, the El Tigre want to continue claiming more victims.
A win over Rizal would extend Mandaluyong’s winning streak to four in a row and improve its win-loss card to 4-1 to join Bataan in a tie for second place of this 26-team cast.
Ray Parks, son of the late seven-time PBA Best Import and league Hall of Famer Bobby Parks, had proven how efficient of a player he is in the MPBL as he ranked sixth in average points (18.5 ppg) and second best in assists (8 apg).
In his team’s last win—a 59-55 triumph over Navotas—he finished with 19 points and eight rebounds and came away with big plays down the stretch to keep his team’s winning run.
Stopping Parks would be a bigger challenge for Rizal, which wants to make its hometown crowd proud as it looks for its first home victory. The Crusaders were denied of their first home win by the Pasay Voyagers last time they played here.
Like Mandaluyong, Makati is also looking for its fourth win in five games and the Skyscrapers are heavily favored against the Warriors of Gen San.
The Skyscrapers are coming off a tough 79-77 win over the Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife where Cedric Ablaza had a near perfect game, finishing with 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field.