Lee Pipes faces odds to survive

Except perhaps the home-court advantage, it seems everything is stacked against Lee Pipes-Ateneo as it fights for dear life versus reigning champion Welcoat Paints in the PBL Unity Cup at the Blue Eagle Gym today.

Miring in the cellar with a 2-6 win-loss card, the Blue Eagles need to sweep their last two games to keep their flickering hopes for the quarterfinal round.

But the Eagles admit having to hurdle the Paintmasters today alone is already a tough task. They think they have to step up their game to overcome the reigning titlists in their 4 p.m. tiff.

Though already seeded in the Final Four, Welcoat is expected to play hard since the Paintmasters have an old score to settle with some members of the Lee-Pipes-Ateneo squad.

Welcoat lost the last PBL Platinum Cup championship to Hapee Toothpaste which featured Ateneo stars Larry Fonacier, LA Tenorio and Paolo Bugia.

In another crucial game, Toyota Otis-Letran and Montana play at 2 p.m. with both pursuing a bid for a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarters.

The Knights and the Jewellers are currently tied with the Blustar squad at fifth place on identical 3-5 win-loss cards.