4 teams start bid for semis berth

Four teams in Group B start their quest for the last semifinal berth today in the second round elimination phase of the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup at the Pasig Sports Center.

ICTSI and John-O clash for the Group B lead at 3 p.m. while Cheese Balls-Shark hopes to snap out of its seven-game losing streak when it meets Montana Pawnshop at 5.

Dazz Dishwashing Paste, a 71-59 winner over Sunkist Pampanga Saturday, claimed the fourth spot in Group A by virtue of its highest quotient – thus sending Montana, ICTSI and John-O into Group B.

But the three teams, along with Sunkist-Pampanga and Cheese Balls-Shark, still have a chance to get into the semifinals.

Tournament rules state that the top four teams after the first round elimination phase shall comprise the upper bracket (Group A) while the last five will be relegated to the lower bracket (Group B) of the second elimination phase.

Each team will face his groupmates in a single round robin. The top three in Group A will automatically qualify for the crossover semis. The fourth team, however, will have to face the top team in Group B in a sudden death playoff for the wildcard entry.

For an incentive, the team in Group B, aside from the No. 1 team that sweeps all games in second round phase shall have the chance to play the top team for the right to face the Group A fourth team for the wild card entry.

"Well, we missed that chance to get into Group A but we’re not giving up hope. We just have to work double time and target the No. 1 spot to get into the crossover semifinals," said ICTSI coach Franz Pumaren as he banks anew on Mark Cardona, Adonis Sta,. Maria, Dominic Uy, Bernzon Franco and Dino Aldeguer.

"We’ve been through highs and lows in the first round, and I just hope the turbulence will be over for us and get down to work," replied John-O coach Dong Vergeire who expects Bong Salvador, Celino Cruz, Mark Macapagal, Leo Bat-og and Ranidel de Ocampo to deliver the goods.

Cheese Balls-Shark is eyeing to get into the next round via the incentive as new coach Philip Cezar sees Rysal Castro, Irvin Sotto, Topex Robinson, Stephen Padilla and Warren Ybanez to play big roles in the coming games.

But Montana is also eyeing a share of the lead in Group B as coach Ronnie Dojillo hopes his wards could maintain their momentum to keep their semifinal hopes alive.