Too close to call

Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste-PCU clash today at the start of the best of five series for the PBL Silver Cup crown in what promises to be an interesting duel between two teams with contrasting styles at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat.

The Port Masters blasted the Toyota Otis Sparks, 92-81, in the deciding Game 5 of their semifinal semis to arrange a showdown with the Teeth Sparklers, who made it to the final first by downing the Mail and More Comets, 3-1.

Gametime is set at 4 p.m.

"It’s going to be a very interesting series," said Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent, seeking to steer the Mikee Romero-owned franchise to its second straight title since copping the 2005 PBL Unity Cup crown.

"We expect a tough battle because we’ll be facing a really strong team," Hapee-PCU mentor Jun Noel, for his part, said.

Mail and More and Toyota Otis, meanwhile, knock each other out for third place at 2 p.m.

Hapee and Harbour Centre split their two games in the tournament with the former pounding out a 73-68 win last November and the latter evening things up with a 75-67 romp last January.

But Joel Dualan, Noel’s assistant, downplayed the Teethmasters’ chances in the title series, even describing their win over the Port Masters a fluke since the latter was still without the prolific JC Intal. – Joey Villar