Hindi malayong mangyari dahil ang kasalukuyang Paint Masters ang siyang pinakamatinding koponan dahil sa kanilang intact powerhouse cast na naghahangad na makuha sa ika-apat na pagkakataon ang korona ng 2000 PBL Challenge Cup na magbubukas ngayong Sabado sa Makati Coliseum.
Ang dating formidable line-up ay pamumunuan nina Ren Ren Ritualo, Jojo Manalo, Anton Villoria, Francis Zamora at ang 6’8 na si Yancy de Ocampo na pinalakas pa ng pagbabalik ng Ateneo Blue Eagle Ryan Pamin-tuan.
Humugot rin si coach Junel Baculi ng mahuhusay na talento sa katauhan nina Bob Ilanga, dating Davao Eagle reserve bilang third pointguard kay Eugene Tan at Celino Cruz na kapalit naman ni Tonichi Pinzon na nag-tungo na sa Amerika.
Ang iba pang bubuo sa koponan nina Ray-mond Yu at Terry Que-owned franchise ay sina Brandon Sison, Allen Patrimonio, skipper Cali John Orfrecio, Eric Canlas, Ferdie Go at Jerome Reyes.
Kung makukuha ng Welcoat ang ikaapat na dikit na titulo, sila ay makakatabla sa maalamat na tagumpay ng Tanduay Rhummasters at ang Paint Masters naman ang siyang magtatayo ng kanilang dinastiya sa PBL.
Itinala ng Rhum-masters ang kanilang kauna-unahang PBL grand slam noong 1995 PBL season, nakuha rin nila ang kauna-unahang PBL four-peat crown makaraang matapyas ang 1996 third conference title, 1997 season kontra sa nabuwag ng Springmaid at Red Bull at ang 1998 Yakult-PBL Centennial Cup laban naman sa Agfa Color.
"We know that the battlecry of every other team is to stop Welcoat. But when they say stop Welcoat, they should make sure they have the right weapons because we have the right weapons," mahigpit na pagbabanta ni Baculi.
" We, the players, are ready for the nexth challenge. The management has been so kind to us, and in return, we’ll give our 100 percent in every game," ani naman ng team captain na si Cali John Orfrecio.
Sinabi pa ni Baculi na nagkaroon ng malaking improvement si Zamora sa kanilang off-season habang ang nagbabalik na si Pamintuan ang siyang magbibigay ng flexibility sa rotation ng malalaking tao, gaya ni Sison, siya ay makapag-lalaro na ngayon ng 100 percent matapos na siya ay maka-recover na mula sa ACL.
"We expect them to show more. Of course, we should not play over confident. Medyo hindi pa kami nagpapractice ng buo. De Ocampo and Canlas are still playing in the University Games, while Villoria has not been with us in the last few practices because of his wife’s health problem," wika pa ni Baculi.
"I told the players to just be ready. My problem right now is motivation. That’s why I challenge the players to motivate themselves to outdo their performance last conference," sabi ni Baculi.
He’s also aware of the tougher competition this conference Shark is raring to get back at them while Blu and Hapee Toothpaste have been performing well since the 1st Athlete’s Haven Cup in Baguio.
Inaasahan rin niya ang Montana na isang delikadong darkhorse para sa korona na nagsagawa rin ng malalaking build-up sa off-season.
"I should not take the credits from the other teams. They’ve been quite a challenge to us. But one of our tough enemies is ourselves. Mahirap kalaban ang mga sarili namin. It’s hard competing against ourselves and it’s even harder to maintain that lofty position," ani pa ni Baculi.