Harbour Centre nears epic sixth crown

Harbour Centre took Magnolia Purewater out of its comfort zone as it hacked out an easy 93-73 victory yesterday to close in on a historic sixth straight title in the PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

BJ Fernandez bounced back from a dismal two-point output in an 84-80 Game 2 loss Thursday by making eight of the 13 shots he took, including a pair of booming triples that gave the Batang Pier a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five series.

The Mikee Romero-owned franchise can wrap it up with a victory on Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan City. A decider, if necessary, will be held at the Ynares Sports Center on Thursday.

“The key here was we started stronger compared to Game Two when we opened the game flat,” said Harbour coach Jorge Gallent, on track for a record sixth straight championship.

After a two-day rest, Mark Barroca, one of the top players of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman at the Smart Gilas RP team, was in his old lethal self as he and Reed Juntilla chipped in 13 points apiece.

Harbour also found an antidote to Magnolia’s prolific duo of Neil Raneses and Eder Saldua.

The Batang Pier clamped down on Raneses, who was held to just eight points on a woeful four-of-12 shooting clip, while literally taking out Saldua, who didn’t return after he injured a shoulder following a hard pick by Jerwin Gaco in the second quarter.

The former Far Eastern University and University of Mindanao standout didn’t score a point after he had solid 17 points and 12 rebounds in Game Two.

Dylan Ababou, who wore a face mask to protect his nose he fractured in Game Two, and Al Magpayo tried to carry the fight by firing 13 and 12 points, respectively, but it wasn’t enough to save the Wizards.

“He (Saldua) hurt his shoulder but we would play in Game Four,” said Magnolia team manager Peter Martin.

Gallent surprised Magnolia mentor Koy Banal by inserting little known Veejay Serios, a forward out of University of the Philippines, into the starting line-up.

It produced dividends as Serios unleashed a seven-point barrage when the Batang Pier unloaded a series of early runs that somehow set the tone for the rout.

“I didn’t use him in the first two games of the series. I’m glad he delivered in this game,” said Gallent of Serios.

Harbour also dominated the boards, grabbing a season-high 57 rebounds, including 22 on the offensive end against only 41 handled by Magnolia.

The Batang Pier also shot the ball well, draining 32 of the 73 shots while the Wizards could only hit 22 of 71.