Welcoat aims to join early qualifiers

Four teams, one seeking a semifinal slot and the three trying to stay in the hunt for quarterfinal berths, clash today at resumption of the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

Welcoat Paints, currently at third spot with a 6-4 win-loss slate, collides with Ateneo-Pioneer Insurance at 2 p.m., hoping to join defending champion Shark Energy Drink and Blu Detergents, both having identical 7-4 records, in second place behind pacesetting ICTSI-La Salle.

Jockeying for position against the Insurers with identical 4-6 cards, on the other hand, are Ana Freezers and Kutitap Toothpaste, which share fifth place with Ateneo at 4-6. They tangle with each other at 4 p.m., hoping to boost their respective quarterfinal bids before the league takes a long holiday break.

Games resume on Jan. 5.

Welcoat coach Junel Baculi vows to go all out to beat Ateneo-Pioneer, which beat his team, 72-67, last Dec. 4.

"Ang target talaga namin ngayon ay bawian lahat ng tumalo sa amin sa first round," said Baculi. "Isa na ang Ateneo-Pioneer sa mga team na gusto naming bawian."

Like the Paint Masters, the Freezer Makers are also raring to avenge their 66-79 defeat to the Teeth Sparklers in their first meeting last Nov. 22.

But Ana, handled by the father-and-son coaching tandem of Rudy and Paolo Mendoza, recovered in time to topple Blu, 96-83.

ICTSI-La Salle bowed to Shark, 55-59, Thursday but remained at the helm with a 7-3 slate. — Joey Villar