Hapee, Viva eye crucial win today

Hapee Toothpaste hopes to bank anew on its transition defense against Viva Mineral Water’s vaunted running game as they clash in the pivotal Game 3 of their best-of-five duel for the Sunkist PBL Unity Cup crown at the Pasig Sports Center today.

Gametime is at 2 p.m. with both teams expected to go all-out for the victory and the momentum going into Game Four. Viva stunned Hapee in the series’ opener with a 64-57 win but the Teeth Sparklers came back strong in the second game and beat the Water Force, 52-43, to reduce the series into a virtual best-of-three affair.

"As I have been saying, offense wins games but defense wins championships. So we have to play tough again if we want to win this series," said Hapee coach Junel Baculi, owner of six PBL titles as a coach including one for the Lamoiyan group seven years ago.

"We are looking for ways to solve their transition defense," said Viva mentor Coy Banal, who is hoping to steer the Water Force to a date with history by becoming the first rookie team to win the title on its first conference since Stag Pale Pilsen achieved the feat in 1995.

"But I believe that in order for us to win the series, we need to play tougher and more aggressive than them (Hapee)," he added.

Seasoned guard Eugene Tan is again expected to spearhead Hapee’s defensive stance. Tan, a member of the Baculi-mentored Welcoat Paints which won five PBL titles, was responsible in slowing down the backcourt tandem of Dennis Miranda and Warren Ybanez in Game 2.

Game 3 will also be an inside battle with Hapee’s Joseph Allan Salangsang, Alwyn Espiritu, Rich Alvarez and Francis Mercado and Viva’s Gerard Jones, Mark Isip and Jason Misolas expected to outmuscle each other in the shaded area.