Welcoat's defense tests Ana's firepower

It will be offensive firepower and inside strength versus hustle and defense as Ana Water and Welcoat clash at the start of their best-of-five series for the second Yakult-PBL Challenge crown at the Makati Coliseum tonight.

The two teams are expected to brandish the form they showed in toppling their respective semifinal opponents last Monday with the Water Dispensers all fired up to repeat over the Paintmasters in a bid to gain the headstart in a series that could go either way.

Ana Water stunned a talent-laden Welcoat side, 68-63, in their only meeting this conference last Dec. 13 and is raring to make it two-in-a-row over the Paintmasters on a team built around streak-shooting Paolo Mendoza, Ren-Ren Ritaulo, Anton Villoria, Jojo Manalo, Marvin Ortiguerra and Allan Gamboa.

"We were able to beat them once, so I don't see any reason why we can't do it again. The are all fired up," said Ana Water coach Jimmy Mariano, who steered the Dispensers to a 69-61 win over the Blu Detergents in a sudden death encounter last Monday.

Welcoat coach Junel Baculi, however, said they're ready for their 6 p.m. clash and confident they will be able to neutralize the vaunted Ana Water offense with solid defense.

"We won our first championship because of defense. It is our defense that will win us the title again," said Baculi, referring to their title romp last year.

On the way to the finals, the Paintmasters foiled the PBA-bound Red Bull Energy Kings, 80-71, behind a shackling defense they hope to apply against the Water Dispensers, especially on Mendoza, the leading MVP contender, and Ortiguerra and Gamboa, who combined for 27 points and 17 rebounds in their lone clash.

But with a team teeming with talent, Welcoat is also expected to harness its full potential in offense with support likely to come from the likes of Rey Mendez and Ronald Tubid, who both stepped up against the Energy Kings last Monday.

Meanwhile, Red Bull and Blu start their own best-of-three series for third at 4 p.m.