Sunkist-UST guns for twice-to-beat edge

The wild and interesting chase for the two twice-to-beat privileges finally comes to a head today when defending champion Hapee Toothpaste collides with dangerous Sunkist-UST in the 2004 PBL Unity Cup at the Blu Eagle Gym.

Win or lose, the Teeth Sparklers are already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage owing to their superior quotient over the other contending teams but the pressure still remains heavy for Hapee coach Junel Baculi.

"Nandoon pa rin ang pressure siyempre kaya all-out pa rin kami," said Baculi. "Iba na yong may psychological advantage kami going into the next round. At isa pa, mabuti na yong manalo kami para hindi kami masyadong malayo sa No. 2 team."

The Teeth Sparklers and Tigers clash at 2 p.m. with the Espana-based squad out to repeat their stunning 69-66 win over the defending champions to clinch the other twice-to-beat privilege in the next round.

League-leading Viva Mineral Water-FEU goes for its seventh straight win when it tackles Welcoat Paints at 4 p.m. Both teams are already assured of automatic semis berths with the Water Force sporting an 8-1 card while the Paint Masters tote a 6-3 mark.

Interestingly, this marks the first time that the league will have two playoff matches — a clear testament that the level of game among participating teams has improved tremendously.

Meanwhile, Hapee starting guard Eugene Tan escaped suspension for his unsportsmanlike conduct in his team’s 64-67 loss to leader Viva-FEU last Thursday. Instead, PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad ordered him to do community work as part of the league’s thrust of easing from the players and coaches the burden of suspension and paying fines for unsportsmanlike behavior.

The loser in the Hapee-Sunkist showdown will drop into a tie with Toyota Otis-Letran, Lee Pipes-Ateneo, Blustar Detergent and Montana pawnshop at 4-6. Right now, Hapee and Sunkist-UST have identical 4-5 records.

Just like Baculi, Viva-FEU coach Koy Banal won’t take their game with Welcoat easily, saying: "With this kind of format, every game is important so we will prepare hard for our game against Welcoat. They have two explosive players so beating them is not easy."

If Hapee wins, the Tigers will be relegated into a playoff against Montana while the Knights will take the second twice-to-beat privilege on account of a better quotient. Clashing in the other playoff match will be Blustar and Lee Pipes.

But if Sunkist-UST prevails, Hapee will slide down to the No. 4 spot while Toyota-Letran will be relegated into a playoff against Blustar. Lee Pipes-Ateneo battles Montana Pawnshop in the other playoff match for the fifth and sixth places.

Baculi is confident they can bounce back from a stunning 64-67 defeat at the hands of the Water Force after a hard workout the other day, saying: "I have a heart-to-heart talk with my boys and we have sorted out all the minor problems besetting the team."

The Water Force have a decisive advantage in height and heft but Banal will rely much on the 6-foot-4 Arwind Santos and the backcourt partnership of Dennis Miranda and Warren Ybanez.

Jojo Tangkay and Chester Tolomia are expected to lead the assault for the Paint Masters who are seeking to arrest a two-game losing run.