Viva puts pressure on Hapee five

Now the pressure is on Hapee Toothpaste.

This was the assessment made by Viva coach Coy Banal after the Water Force overcame the odds and pulled off a 64-57 victory over the fancied Teeth Sparklers in the opener of their best-of-five showdown for the Sunkist PBL Unity Cup in Lucena City Saturday.

"Before Game 1, we were really pressured because we knew the odds were against us," said Banal. "But with this huge, very huge victory, sila naman ang may problema."

Indeed, the win by the San Miguel Corp. franchise brought the Teeth Sparklers back to the drawing board, scrambling for ways to get back in the series, which resumes tomorrow at the Pasig Sports Center.

"Kailangan naming baguhin ang attitude namin, iniisip kasi ng players ko na kayang-kaya nila ang Viva dahil we were 4-0 against them before Game 1," Hapee mentor Junel Baculi told The STAR.

"Now if we can change our attitude and play in Game 2 as hard, if not harder, as we’ve played them (Viva) in our first four meetings, wala kaming magiging problema.

"We have to get back in Game 2 because we can’t afford to lose again," added Baculi, whose charges were swept by the Welcoat Paint Masters in last year’s Challenge Cup finals in three games.

In Game 1, the Water Force looked more of the experienced and talented team than the Teeth Sparklers when the latter beat the former in their first four meetings before the finals.

In fact, Viva Mineral Water were in control from start to finish, never giving the Lamoiyan franchise a chance to recover and steal the win.