Viva, Montana duel for last slot

Viva Mineral Water and Montana Pawnshop dispute the last automatic semifinal slot today in the replay of their postponed match at the Pasig Sports Center.

The winner of the 3 p.m. match will join Hapee Toothpaste and John-O in the pre-final stage while the loser will join five other teams in the stepladder phase.

Their match was postponed after power failure struck the San Juan Gym last May 4, with 4:53 remaining and the scores tied at 14-all.

When power service failed to resume after 30 minutes, the PBL Technical Committee decided to replay the match. Under PBL house rules, if the game was stopped due power failure before the first half, the contest will be replayed in its entirety.

But Montana is highly favored in this crucial encounter as it won 83-54 last May 27 at the Makati Coliseum.

In the game, the Jewelers dominated the boards, 48-39, earned 23 points on fastbreaks, 15 points off the rivals’ 20 turnovers and clipped a high 51 percent at the field or 36-of-71 attempts.

The Water Force only converted 29 percent or only 19-of-66 attempts, only five points on fastbreaks and only nine points off the Jewelers’ 23 turnovers.

"We are the underdog in this match. The last time out we still didn’t have cohesion. But with the way the boys are playing now, mas malakas na ang laban namin," said Viva coach Koy Banal.

Mark Isip has improved a lot since their first three losses. In their last game against Hapee, he led the team with 13 points, six rebounds and a block as he joins veterans Jason Misolas, Jeff Napa, Francis Gerard Jones and Warren Ybanez in the Water Force’ bid to advance to the semis.