Tournament darkhorse Aloha Maid Choppers aims to solidify their bid into the quarterfinals when they take on the Ilocandia Bulls on Sunday in the resumption of the 2011 Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National gym.

Sporting an 8-10 win-loss tally, the Choppers aim to score a win and even their chances going into the quarterfinals. They will be led by gunners PJ Esguerra, Ronald Reyes, Nelson Dupalco, Mark Lofranco, Rey Potot and Janine Carandang.

On the other hand, the Bulls (10-9) hopes to get a better slot going into the next round as they will again rely on the team of Raul Osias, Dennis Castro, Joeger Supnet, Jun Villena and Hasidrie Mangulamas.

In other games, team Spoilers faces Hanpa Cardinals in the opener at 11 a.m. followed by the PNQ Rams-Slashers tussle at 12:30 p.m. while Western Union takes on the Guardians in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

This year’s FBL is sponsored by Aqua Drinking Water, ATT Bar and Restaurant, Blue Bay Petroleum Inc., Budget Mart 1, CTSI Logistics/Western Union, Engr. Bobby Pineda, Galaxy Dexigner, Galaxy Builders, Kabayan Restaurant, MJ Trading and General Merchandise, Palasia Hotel, Palau Royal Resort, Palau Shipping Co., PITI, Sea Passion Hotel, Shimbros Inc., The Print Zone, The Taj Restaurant, VMJ Construction and WCTC. The FBL is under the supervision of the Palau Basketball Federation.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)