Viva unfazed by giant task ahead

Viva coach Koy Banal likens his team’s upcoming duel with Hapee for the Sunkist-PBL 2003 Unity Cup crown to a David-Goliath clash — with the Water Force the virtual underdog against the seemingly unconquerable Hapee side.

And Banal wants his team to pull off a David caper in the keenly-awaited best-of-five series which starts tomorrow in Lucena City.

"It’s a very motivating story. The odds are great against us, but the story inspired us to go on and face the challenge. With faith in God and in ourselves, nothing is impossible. We will overcome," said Banal.

"Giving it a thought, we will follow David’s ways. It’s not a matter of matching our rivals man for man, or follow the flow the way the other team wants it to be. But we must fight the way we know how, the way we have been playing to get this far," he added.

Banal is no stranger to the championship pressure. He steered PSBA to the NCRAA title sweep in 1998, bagged the Champion’s League against University of the East last year, the Fr. Martin’s Cup in 2001, the UniGames against St. Francis last year, and steered Far Eastern University to a runner-up finish against La Salle in the 2000 UAAP season.

But this is his biggest battle so far, considering that they lost all four meetings against Hapee this conference. Banal admits his team lacks the maturity and experience.

But he’d rather capitalize more on the team’s strengths rather than be bogged by their weaknesses.

"First and foremost, our strength lies in our faith in God. Second, the boys are hungrier for the title. Third is our youth and the motivation in ourselves, and of course, the all-out support of the management," Banal said.

"I told the boys that we should not let this opportunity slip off our hands. Let’s keep that desire (to win) burning. And if you don’t have the desire to use your fresh legs and talents, it’s nothing."

True, none of the Water Force averages in double digits — but that’s because teamwork plays a big part in most, if not all, of their victories.

Francis Gerard Jones, who averages 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds, has consistently delivered the crucial blows in both the elimination and the semifinals and Banal expects him to be the rallying factor being the heart and soul of the team.

Dennis Miranda, Cesar Catli, James Zablan and Mark Isip have noticeably stepped up in the past four games, not to mention the valuable contribution that veterans Joel Co, Sonny Margate, Warren Ybanez, Rhagnee Sinco, Jeff Napa and Jason Misolas will render in this series together with big guys 6’6 James Razon and 6’8 Don Yabut.

"There were lessons learned in defeat. I told the boys to take it by heart and use it like David’s slingshot to conquer the rivals."

"The pressure is not on us, since Hapee is expected to win the crown by a sweep. But we will be there fighting and giving our best in every game."