TeleTech storms Rain or Shine, stays alive

TeleTech played true to form yesterday to stun Rain or Shine, 90-76, and keep its slim quarterfinals hopes alive in the 2006 PBL Unity Cup at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranaque.

With almost everybody chipping in, the Titans outplayed their rivals in practically all departments to post their first back-to-back wins in the league and leave the defending champions stunned in disbelief.

"This is a big win for us, I’m sure na tataas naman ang self-confidence nila," beamed TeleTech coach Jerry Codiñera. "We failed to stop Jojo (Tangkay) but we managed to stop their other key players and that was huge."

But for the Titans to advance to the next round, they must beat Harbour Centre next week by at least 15 points and hope that the Port Masters will also drop their two other games.

With the loss, Rain or Shine slipped to 7-5, its outright semis bid now in peril.

Codiñera also paid tribute to their great defensive effort in the fourth where they limited Tangkay to just four points.

Ariel Capuz led the Titans with 17 points, including 11 in the second quarter where they started to pull away. The Titans took a 49-40 lead early in the third quarter but the Elasto Painters, starring Tangkay and Eugene Tan, managed to knot the count at 56-all.

But that proved to be the best the Elasto Painters could do as Mel Latoreno hit a side side jumper and Axel Doruelo capped the third quarter salvo with a booming triple for a 61-56 lead.

The Titans were never threatened from there as Doruelo and TY Tang buried a triple each in a fiery 16-7 assault to rip the game open, 77-63, with over five minutes left.

Despite the stormy winds outside, the Titans were simply hot, tmaking 32 of 62 tries for an impressive 52 percent shooting clip from the field.

In the second game, Montaña Pawnshop held off Toyota Otis, 69-63, and regained the solo lead with its 9th win in a dozen games. The win also enhanced the Jewelers’ bid for one of two outright semis berths.

The Sparks absorbed their fourth loss against nine victories.Villamin chipping in 15 points.

Tangkay scored 25 points in a performance that drew raves from Codinera.

"Magaling na bata, lahat na klaseng shots halos ginawa na niya. Dapat talaga mabigyan pa siya ng second chance na makalaro sa PBA," said Codinera of Tangkay who also hauled down nine rebounds and dished out four assists.

A big disappointment for Rain or Shine were Marvin Ortiguera, Jun Jun Cabatu and JR Reyes. The three combined only for 18 points.