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Racal guns for first-ever PBA D-League Finals berth

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/03/23/032317_racal.jpg "/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Lervin Flores (R) and the rest of Racal try to close out their series against Rod Ebondo and Cafe France. <cite>Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – The Racal Tile Masters have a golden opportunity to advance to the Finals for the first time ever in its history in the PBA D-League following a stunning victory over Café France last Tuesday.Sidney Onwubere&#x27;s buzzer-beating three-pointer lifted the Tile Masters to an 88-86 win over the Rhum Masters, giving them a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series.Racal can close out the series against the Bakers and formally book a ticket to the 2017 PBA D-League Aspirants&#x27; Cup Finals on Thursday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.Coach Jerry Codiñera knows that it will not be a walk in the park, however, as he anticipates a tough response from Café France.&quot;The name of the game is we have to be patient,&quot; said Codiñera. &quot;Anything can happen, anything is possible. We expected a down-the-wire affair, and tama nga dahil ganoon ang nangyari.&quot;&quot;We expect nothing less than that in Game 2,&quot; he added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2017/03/21/racal-family-helps-onwubere-transform-around-force-23584">READ: Racal family helps Onwubere transform into all-around force</a></li></ul>Onwubere will try to sustain his hot sniping, having gone 5-of-10 from beyond the arc on Tuesday. Racal also hopes to get valuable contributions from Jackson Corpuz, Kent Salado, and Rey Nambatac.Café France coach Egay Macaraya, for his part, is not too worried even with his team&#x27;s precarious position, saying that losses like the one in Game 1 can only strengthen their youthful team.&quot;I guess this loss will make us a better team. With a young team like this, I know we can develop more and we could improve more knowing all of these circumstances na nangyari,&quot; said Macaraya.The coach wants his other players to step up and help their key performers, however. Congolese big man Rod Ebondo carried the load for Café France in Game 1, with Paul Desiderio and Joseph Sedurifa the only locals to play well.&quot;We cannot rely on just Ebondo, because Ebondo is not Superman. Ebondo will always be a problem inside for the opponents, but wala na akong pamalit sa kanya. He needs the help,&quot; he said.Game time is at 5 p.m.<div>TANDUAY TARGETS UPSET</div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/03/23/032317_racal2.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Jerwin Gaco will again try to lead Tanduay past Cignal-San Beda. <cite>Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div>Meanwhile, the fourth-seeded Tanduay Rhum Masters will try to complete an upset of No. 1 Cignal-San Beda when they face of anew at 3 p.m.The Rhum Masters snapped the Hawkeyes&#x27; eight-game winning streak and handed coach Boyet Fernandez his first ever D-League semifinals defeat to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three semifinals series.Coach Lawrence Chongson, however, is not resting on his laurels, as he warned his Tanduay crew to brace for a better showing from the Hawkeyes.&quot;We know Cignal will come out with adjustments,&quot; said Chongson. &quot;At this stage, bar room brawl na ito eh. Matira ang matibay.&quot;Tanduay will once again be bannered by former pros Jerwin Gaco and Mark Cruz.Fernandez, for his part, is simply hoping that Cignal has already learned its lessons from its humbling 66-55 defeat in Game 1, where the usually high-scoring crew failed to convert even one of its 17 three-point attempts, and registered only seven assists.The key is for the Hawkeyes to not be overwhelmed by the situation, and instead bounce back in Game 2.&quot;I just told them that it&#x27;s not over yet,&quot; said Fernandez. &quot;Tanduay has to beat us one more time. So for us, we just have to see what we&#x27;ve done wrong and try to adjust.&quot;&quot;Hopefully, we can recover, take good care of Game 2, and look forward to Game 3,&quot; he added.For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">Sports website.</a>

The Racal Tile Masters have a golden opportunity to advance to the Finals for the first time ever in its history in the PBA D-League following a stunning victory over Café France last Tuesday.

The Racal Tile Masters have a golden opportunity to advance to the Finals for the first time ever in its history in the PBA D-League following a stunning victory over Café France last Tuesday.