Well-oiled Welcoat back as PBL king

Welcoat operated on a sleek running game to trounce Montaña, 98-80, and complete what it had failed to do the last time out — capture the PBL Unity Cup crown before a big, roaring crowd at the Astrodome.

Everything the Paintmasters did wrong in their 73-89 loss to the Jewels that foiled their sweep bid last Tuesday, they all fixed yesterday as they played like a well-oiled machine to tear the vaunted Jewels’ defense to shreds en route to re-installing themselves as kings of the PBL via a 3-1 victory in their best-of-five series.

"In Game 3, we played individually kaya kami natalo. This time we played as a team kaya nanalo kami," said Welcoat coach Caloy Garcia, who finally nailed his first PBL crown as a coach since he took over from Leo Austria last year.

Truly, the Well-best-owned franchise, a perennial champion here but whose last victory was in 2002, played cohesively from start-to-finish, coming up with 24 assists that translated to a series-high 13 triples, five of which coming from Jojo Tangkay.

The clincher also produced heroes in Leo Najorda, Marvin Ortiguerra and Fil-Am Anthony Washington.

Najorda, the 2003 NCAA MVP, exploded with 15 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter while Tangkay sizzled like no other from behind the arc, hitting a total of five triples. He wound up with 17 points.

Ortiguerra, member of the Dr. J-Ana team that shocked the Eric Menk-Tanduay squad for the 1998 Centennial Cup title, chipped in 13 points while providing the rough, rugged defense that slowed down Montaña’s top gun Jondan Salvador. The 2004 MVP had a 23-point output but it was less than the 29-point production he did in Montaña’s only win in the best-of-five series.

But it was the 6-foot-6 Washington, who shone brightest among the many heroes Welcoat produced in its title romp.

While Najorda was named the Pivotal Player of the playoff, Washington took home the series’ MVP honors, capping the big night with a steady game of 25 points, including nine in the final quarter.

"I have to give it to him, he’s our main guy and he delivered," said Garcia of his former Eckerd College standout in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Hitting the triples early, the Paint Masters roared to leads as big as 13 points but a 11-0 blitz that Al Vergara ignited gave the Jewels a 43-42 upperhand at the break.

But Welcoat came out of the break an organized lot as it scored all but two 17 third quarter points from the three-point area that set the tone for the rout.

"We did our best, Caloy prepared well. I have to give it to them and congratulate the Welcoat management," said Montaña mentor Robert Sison, who was terribly missing the services of top defender Al Magpayo — who broke his arm early in the conference.