Shark, Welcoat in final

Shark Energy Drink and Welcoat Paints arranged a rematch of their PBL Challenge Cup title collision in the Chairman's Cup by hacking out gripping victories over Giv Beauty Soap and Ana Freezers, respectively, yesterday at the Makati Coliseum.

The Paintmasters buried crucial three-pointers in the stretch to beat the Freezer Makers, 72-58, while the Power Boosters needed three overtime periods before eventually withstanding their Giv rivals, 96-93, in the double knockout games.

The two teams start their best-of-seven title showdown tomorrow.

Rolly Basilides played big coming off the bench and became Shark’s top man versus Giv.

Basilides, a former San Sebastian mainstay in the NCAA who was acquired by Shark from the MBA’s Laguna team, found no better time to get his breakout game for the Power Boosters, sizzling with a team-high 21 points, including baskets that counted the most in the knockout game.

Basilides turned out to be Shark’s man of the hour as he hit a triple to force the first extension and fired eight points in the final overtime period.

The Power Boosters also teetered on the brink of disaster in the first and second OTs, but survived on both occasions.

They erased a four-point deficit in the second overtime and went on to outlast the fighting Giv squad in the next period, thus gaining a shot for a second straight championship after their Challenge Cup conquest.

"My players really wanted to play in the finals. They just refused to give up," said coach Leo Austria, whose wards needed to go through sudden-death after bungling their first crack at the title playoff Thursday.

It appeared Shark would also lose the rubbermatch as it flirted with disaster at least thrice in the contest.

In the end, the Power Boosters proved they won’t be denied of a title shot.

Edwin Bacani, who served a game suspension Thursday, came back with a splendid game for Giv, erupting for a game-high 27 points.