Harbour, Magnolia dispute solo lead

Harbour Centre and Magnolia Purewater dispute the solo lead in a duel of unbeaten teams in the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup at the Jose Rizal U gym in Mandaluyong today.

The Batang Pier and the Wizards gun for their third straight win at each other’s expense at 2 p.m. with the former pinning their hopes on the returning FEU cagers and the latter backstopped by UST standouts.

Harbour, seeking an unprecedented six straight crown, opened its campaign with an 83-66 rout of Pharex before scrambling past Toyota Otis, 98-93, last week.

Harbour took a long break after FEU’s Mark Andy Barroca, JR Cawaling, Reil Cervantes and Aldrech Ramos took a leave of absence to play for their mother school in a collegiate tournament in Mindanao.

Their presence is expected to firm up Harbour’s bid anchored on Rico Maeirhofer, Jerwin Gaco, Edwin Asoro, BJ Fernandez and Boyet Bautista.

“We are well-rested but it could also go against us because we might also be rusty,” said Harbour coach Jorge Gallent.

The Wizards are likewise on a roll following an 88-80 win over the Generix and a 77-65 triumph over the Toyota Sparks.

“This is going to be a big test for us, probably the biggest,” said Magnolia coach Koy Banal.

The Wizards will bank on the power duo of Al Magpayo and Neil Raneses and UST mainstays Dylan Ababou and Chester Taylor.

Toyota Otis, meanwhile, tries to snap out of a three-game skid as it plays Bacchus Energy Drink at 4 p.m.

The Sparks, one of the pre-tournament favorites, played below expectations, dropping their first three games to join Pharex in the cellar. The Energy Kings tote a 1-1 card.