From feuding pack to resurgent champs

For a team that started its PBL campaign like a house divided but still came out of it like a house on fire, Welcoat’s title romp in the Chairman’s Cup could indeed be sweet.

For nobody thought the feuding Paintmasters would be able to bury the hatchet that had threatened to break up what has been considered as one of the most formidable teams ever assembled in the league.

"I even offered to resign because I did not want Welcoat to fail with me around," said Welcoat coach Junel Baculi, referring to his feud with top gunner Jojo Manalo that caused the team’s woeful 1-3 start.

But timely intervention of team owners Margaret Yu, Raymond Yu and Terry Que averted the fallout among the coach and its key players, paving the way for the resurgence of the team that ruled the tournament in smashing fashion last year.

Still, the Paintmasters struggled for form in the latter part of the elims and into the quarters and had to go through two sudden deaths against Ana Freezers to be able to get into the semifinals.

"I never really thought we can reach the finals," said Baculi.

They did.

Two one-point victories, stole out of endgame breaks that further underscored the Paintmasters’ character and determination, gave Welcoat the cushion it needed to repeat over Shark.

"I think Games 1 and 2 are crucial in this series. They could have gone either way," said Baculi.

Games 3 and 4 proved to be a virtual workout for the Paintmasters as they dominated the Power Boosters en route to scoring another sweep in their best-of-seven series.

"Okay na kami ni coach Junel at siguro, nakatulong din ‘yung konting alitan namin," said Manalo, who openly hit Baculi for favoring Ren- Ren Ritualo, who also had a rift with Yancy de Ocampo in one stretch of the tournament.

But as the old adage goes, all’s well that ends well.

But that’s bad news for the other teams. Because everybody knows the Paintmasters are unbeatable when they play as one cohesive unit.

The Power Boosters can attest to that.