Blu, Hapee part ways

As joint leaders Shark and Montana take a rest today, Blu Sun Power and Hapee try to firm up their quarterfinal bid at each other’s expense as they clash in the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

Toting identical 4-3 (win-loss) marks, the Detergent Kings and Teeth Sparklers are hoping to tie idle Welcoat in third place and move a win from joining the frontrunners in the six-team, carryover quarterfinals.

Blu, however, is slightly favored in their 3:30 p.m. encounter, owing to their big 61-57 victory over erstwhile solo leader Shark and an emphatic 72-64 win over Osaka Iridology last week.

"I believe the boys are getting into groove. Hapee is a defense-oriented team and has bigger men compared to us, but I’m still confident the boys can do the job," said Blu coach Nat Canson who is expected to rely again on his starting crew of Marlon Legaspi, Arnold Calo, Egay Biliones, Eric de la Cuesta and Marlon Kalaw.

Hapee coach Stevenson Tiu, on the other hand, hopes that his wards will be able to post their first back-to-back wins after a win-loss-win-loss-win-loss-win run.

"Gusto rin ng mga bata na makapasok sa quarterfinals. Nandoon na ’yung character at intensity. Defense will play a big role but we just have to work on it consistently," said Tiu, whose team is trying to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since it rejoined the league last year.

Ana Freezers (3-4) likewise hopes to boost its own bid as it collides with Osaka Iridology (2-5) at 5:30 p.m.