Fading Blu Star, Viva seek wins

Resurgent Viva Mineral Water and skidding Blu Star Power seek to remain at third place as they take on different rivals today at the resumption of the Sunkist PBL Unity Cup at the Pasig Sports Center.

Bunched at joint third with a 3-3 slate behind Hapee Toothpaste (5-1) and John-O (4-2), the Water Force clash with the Welcoat Paint Masters at 4 p.m. while the Detergent Kings tangle with the LBC Batangas Blades at 2 p.m. in the league’s first games following a five-day Lenten break.

After dropping its first three games, Viva made a big turnaround as it racked up three straight victories to emerge as one of the contenders despite playing in its first conference.

Blu, one of three teams fancied to vie for the title, lost two games in a row, one against Viva (66-72) on April 13 and Montana Pawnshop (94-100, 2OT) on April 15 — setbacks that somehow cast doubts on the team’s real strength.

"We’re winning because we’re starting to have faith on each other," said Viva coach Coy Banal. "Now if we can keep that trust and work harder and harder each game, then we have a strong chance of contending for the title this conference."

Banal, however, is expected to face tough opposition in Welcoat, a team which is coming off an 87-57 rout of Nutri-licious in Tuesday’s triple-bill.

The Paint Masters, currently struggling with a 2-4 record, are playing again without starting guard Paul Artadi, who has been out of the team for three games because of a commitment with the University of the East.

But Welcoat coach Leo Austria is just happy that they are winning without his star guard. "We really miss him (Artadi) but we’re 2-1 (win-loss) without him, which is a good sign because a lot of my players are stepping up."

Blu mentor Leo Isaac, on the other hand, is finding it hard to blend his new frontline acquisitions — Ruel Buenaventura, Roland Pascual, Melvin Taguines and Randy Lopez — with his mainstays.

Another problem Isaac, whose only PBL title came in 1998 when he steered Dr. J Alcohol to a title over fancied Tanduay Gold, needs to solve is to how to draw the best from Eric dela Cuesta, Tristan Codamon, Lou Gatumbato and Mike Garcia, who have been playing inconsistent games lately.

Meanwhile, the Cebuana Lhuillier-bankrolled RP cage team clashes with Nutri-licious at 6 p.m. an exhibition game as part of the league’s commitment to the national squad.

The Nationals, who are preparing for the Souhteast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Championship in Manila next month and the SEAG in Hanoi, Vietnam from Dec. 5 to 14, are composed mainly of players coming from the PBL with Aric del Rosario as headcoach.

"This is just part of our commitment in uplifting RP basketball," said commissioner Chino Trinidad.