Control key factor for Viva in Game 4

If there is one factor that will spell the biggest difference in the Sunkist PBL Unity Cup finals, Viva Mineral Water coach Coy Banal thinks it’s control.

"We could not execute our plays that much because we didn’t have control," said Banal, minutes after the San Miguel Corp.-owned franchise edged Hapee, 58-56, in a win that gave it a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five series.

"And I think control will be a big factor in Game 4," added Banal, whose charges go for the kill on Tuesday at the Pasig Sports Center.

Dennis Miranda, hero in his team’s Game 3 triumph, will be an important factor in determining the fate of Viva, which is seeking to become the first rookie team to have won a title on its first conference since Stag Pale Pilsen achieved the same feat eight years back.

After a dismal effort in his squad’s 43-52 Game 2 defeat, Miranda has turned himself back to his usual role as Viva’s take-charge guy, scoring two clutch baskets in the final minute and pulling off a defense gem in Hapee’s last possession that sealed the win.

"Basically that’s what happens when you have control," Banal stressed.

Hapee mentor Junel Baculi, for his part, explained his team needs to minimize turning the ball over if they want to get back in the series and force a rubber match scheduled on Thursday at a still unspecified venue.

"We played tough defense in Game 3 but it was obviously not enough because we committed a lot of turnovers," said Baculi, owner of six PBL titles as a coach including one for the Lamoiyan group seven years ago.

Based on the stats sheets, Hapee and Viva were almost even in all departments but in turnovers, throwing the ball 22 times against Viva’s 16 that translated to 18 points for the latter.