Harbour, Noosa Shoes dispute PBL lead today

Defending champion Harbour Centre and comebacking Noosa Shoes, which scored impressive wins on opening day, dispute the early lead today in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym in Manila.

The Batang Pier lived up to their pre-season billing by whipping the San Mig Coffee Kings, 85-77, while the Shoe Stars registered the first upset win in the season-ending tournament by downing the Burger King Whoppers, 73-63.

Despite the team’s easy win, Harbour coach Jorge Gallent was hardly satisfied, saying his boys played horribly in the first half, specially on the defensive end.

“Good thing, they picked up enough steam in the fourth that’s why we were able to pull away,” said Gallent.

“They (Batang Pier) played only 60 to 70 percent of their potential, so I hope we can improve it a little bit.”

Game time is set at 2 p.m. while the Coffee Kings and Whoppers clash at 4 p.m. with both teams determined to barge into the win column. Bonbon Custodio, who scored 23 points before he was pulled out after colliding with Harbour’s Jason Castro in the fourth quarter, is expected to lead the Coffee Kings anew along with Leo Losentes and veteran Neil Raneses.