Austria and the Welcoat Paint Masters go for the clincher today when they collide with Baculi and the Dazz Grease Busters in Game 3 of their PBL Challenge Cup best-of-five title showdown at the Pasig Sports Center.
"It’s a different feeling now that I’m this close to sweeping Junel," Austria, the Welcoat coach, told The STAR, referring to Baculi, his buddy and former coach.
"Naranasan ko nang ma-sweep ng dalawang beses kaya excited naman akong ma-feel kung paano maka-sweep. Pero siyempre, ang main goal talaga namin ay mag-champion, sweep man o hindi," he added.
Welcoat and Dazz square off at 5 p.m. with both teams looking forward to another fierce, emotional struggle in what could be the final game of the season for the league’s finest homegrown talents before plunging into the PBA.
Today’s game could be a swan song, too, for PBA-bound Ronald Tubid, Welcoat’s main man in last Thursday’s 77-68 come-from-behind overtime victory in Game One in Lucena City, Quezon.
Same goes with the gifted Eddie Laure, who almost did it all in a 65-63 triumph last Saturday in Lipa City, Batangas that pushed the Paint Masters a win closer from a fifth title.
But no one wants a victory more than Romel Adducul, this year’s PBA second overall draft pick signed up by Barangay Ginebra, who is to receive his second Most Valuable Player trophy today for leading his team this far.
"Ang isa sana sa gusto kong gawin bago man lang ako mag-PBA ay makapagpa-champion ako ng isang team dito sa PBL," said Adducul, part of San Sebastian’s NCAA five-peat and the Manila and LBC Batangas teams that won a title each in the defunct MBA.
"Hopefully ma-accomplish ko ito sa Welcoat," he added.
Austria, however, is wary that his team might play complacent again.
"Alam naman natin na hindi papayag ang Dazz ng ganon-ganon na lang kaya hindi puwedeng lalamya-lamya kami bukas (today)," said Austria.
While Welcoat is bracing for another victory celebration, Dazz is plotting a gameplan to spoil the party.
Baculi, Dazz’ spirited mentor, has vowed to get back at Welcoat.
"I told my players not to give up because this series is not yet over," said Baculi, who steered Welcoat to four titles in six straight finals appearances from 1999 to 2001 before leaving for the MBA’s Olongapo Volunteers in 2002.
"We know we can compete against a powerful team like Welcoat, it’s just that we didn’t get the breaks in our two losses so you may call us unlucky," added Baculi, whose last title with the Lamoiyan franchise came in 1996 when he steered the Ma Jian-reinforced squad to victory against Tanduay Rhum.
In the other game, Blu All Purpose, runner-up to Ateneo in the 2002 Chairman’s Cup, and LBC Batangas clash in the deciding match of their best-of-three series for third place at 3 p.m.