Defense is key in PBL finals

Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent said the other day defense will decide the outcome of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Unity Cup best-of-five Finals starting today at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat.

The Port Masters face the Toyota Otis Sparks in what promises to be a down-to-the-wire finish. Experts are predicting the championship series to go the full route. The protagonists are a contrast in styles as Harbour is a defensive fastbreaking team while Toyota is a physical squad that likes to set up in the halfcourt.

The common denominator is both teams are defense-oriented, making for a heart-stopping series where every possession is critical.

In the elimination round, the teams split wins with Toyota drawing first blood via a 76-74 squeaker and Harbour gaining sweet revenge in the 80-71 rematch.

Gallent, 36, is up against Sparks coach Louie Alas, 39, in the battle of wits. Both are hungry for victory. Gallent took over the coaching reins from Dindo Pumaren late last year and led Harbour Centre to fourth place in the Heroes Cup. He’d like nothing better than to prove his worth to team owner Mikee Romero. Toyota is also seeking redemption after finishing eighth and last in the Heroes Cup.

The key match-ups in the series are Harbour’s 5-8 L. A. Tenorio versus Toyota’s 5-8 Boyet Bautista at point guard, 5-11 Joseph Yeo versus 6-4 Aaron Aban at two-guard and 6-5 Robbie Reyes versus 6-7 Joe Devance at center.

Reaching the finals was particularly grueling for Harbour Center. The Port Masters got off to a poor start, losing four in a row, and Gallent was put to the test.

"Jorge didn’t know what hit him at that stage," recalled team manager Erick Arejola, a former La Salle guard. "There was grumbling but George stood by his coaching philosophy. No star player for him, everybody had to work and just follow instructions to the hilt. Somehow, his ultimatum to the players did the trick."

Harbour finished the eliminations in sixth spot with a 6-8 record and took on No. 3 Granny Goose in the quarters. Despite a twice-to-beat disadvantage, the Port Masters rose to the occasion and shocked the Tortillos. Then, in the best-of-5 semifinals, Harbour again defied the odds in stunning No. 2 Montaña in four games.

Game 3 of the Montaña series was probably the most exciting in the conference as Harbour squandered a 25-point lead but battled back to eke out a win in double overtime.

Gallent, a former Far Eastern University cager who had a brief stint with Tanduay in the pros, likened the Port Masters to the Phoenix Suns with defense. "We’re also like Ginebra because we never say die and Red

Bull because we’re tough defensively," noted Gallent. He said Toyota plays like the Detroit Pistons, known for their bangers and stoppers.

Gallent’s first coaching achievement came when he piloted a local high school selection to the championship of an international students tournament in Taipei in 1999. His players included James Yap, Paul Artadi, Rey Mendoza, Gaco and Arejola. The Gallent Men, playing as the Nike All-Stars, were unbeaten and trounced teams from Taiwan, Japan, Korea and the US.

Gallent was a Welcoat assistant coach and St. Benilde head coach before moving to Harbour. He said his focus in the Finals will be man-to-man, straight-up defense.

"We hardly play zone," said Gallent. "We like to pressure and score in transition off turnovers. We’ll press Boyet and force him to give up the ball. I think the three things that will decide the series are control of the rebounds, defense and turnover points. We like to run but we’re basically a defensive team. We’re not as big or tall as Toyota but we’re scrappier."

As for Toyota, Gallent said he has the highest respects for Alas who has won titles in the collegiate, amateur commercial and pro levels.