Viva vs Welcoat — an explosive mix

With an impressive record and a kind of cohesion that a lot of teams could only envy, Koy Banal and Viva Mineral Water-Far Eastern University should feel comfortable going into the PBL Unity Cup finals.

But there is one pesky thought that keeps preventing Banal from doing so– the mystery that is Welcoat Paints.

Banal and the Water Force step into the court today in Game 1 of their best-of-five title showdown at the Pasig Sports Center hoping to find the answer against the Paint Masters in a championship duel expected to generate excitement and drama.

"We may have the best record going into the finals but if you will look at it closely, all three of our losses came against Welcoat," said Banal who is 1-3 against Carlos Garcia in their head-to-head matchup this conference.

"So it’s safe to say that they have the advantage against us," added the coach of reigning UAAP titlist FEU.

The series unfolds at 3:30 p.m. today, which will be preceded by the 1:30 p.m. knockout game for third place between deposed champion Hapee Tootpaste and newcomer Toyota Otis-Letran.

And both Banal and youthful Welcoat mentor Carlos Garcia think the series will go the full, five-game route.

"It’s going to be a long series. This is a series you can’t afford to relax until the final buzzer," said Banal, who is seeking his first ever PBL title in his second finals appearance.

"I think it’s going to be an exciting series, there is a big possibility that it’s going to last five games," Garcia, for his part, said.

Even commissioner Chino Trinidad agrees.

"All the ingredients are there. Both teams are blessed with exciting and explosive players. It will be as exciting and dramatic as the Platinum Cup finals," he said. Indeed, Viva and Welcoat have the men for the mission with the former having MVP statistical race leader Arwind Santos, Dennis Miranda, Warren Ybañez, Mark Isip, Gerard Jones and exciting rookie Neil Raneses while the latter has the best scoring tandem in Chester Tolomia and Jojo Tangkay.

While the Water Force have the youthful exuberance and quickness, the Paint Masters boast of experience. For one, Tolomia, who has a brief stint with Barangay Ginebra in the PBA, has fought four championship battles winning two of them, both coming at the expense of Welcoat.

Dino Aldeguer and Lou Gatumbato have also been there and done it. Aldeguer saw action when La Salle and Welcoat won the championship in the UAAP and the PBL, respectively. He was also member of the Negros Slashers that finished second twice in the defunct MBA.

Gatumbato, on the other hand, was a vital cog when the Blustar Detergents finished second behind the Ateneo Eagles in the 2002 finals and is rearing to shoot for his first title in the league.

"It will be a challenge for us and myself but I’ve been in this kind of situation before," said Aldeguer.