Viva o Hapee sa kampeonato?

Matira matibay ang magiging tema ng labanan ng Hapee Toothpaste at Viva Mineral Water sa deciding Game-Five ng kanilang Sunkist-PBL 2003 Unity Cup titular showdown sa Pasig Sports Center sa alas-3:00 ng hapon.

Nasa panig ngayon ng Teeth Sparklers ang momentum sa winner-take-all match na ito dahil sa kanilang nakaraang 80-65 panalo noong Game-Four na nagtabla ng best-of-five series sa 2-all.

Gayunpaman, ayaw pa ring maging kumpiyansa ni coach Junel Baculi laban sa kanyang counterpart na si coach Koy Banal ng Viva.

"It’s still anybody’s ball game. We’re back to zero in Game 5, but the problem is, there will be no tomorrows," ani Baculi. "You may have seen the best of us, but we have not yet seen Viva Mineral Water to the fullest. It’s one underrated team that turned out to be the biggest surprise this conference. I have so much respect for them for getting this far."

Inaasahang nakasentro kina Allan Salangsang at Eugene Tan ang depensa ng Water Force dahil sila ang consistent top scorer ng Hapee.

"I have to give credits to them. Nagulat kami sa lakas nila and I congratulate Hapee for playing all out down to their coaching staff who really kept reminding coach Baculi and their players of the gameplan and the adjustments," sabi naman ni Banal.

"It will be a matter of motivation, and the team with the better desire to win the title will prevail in this match. Aside from their key players, we have to do something about their transition and their zone defense na talagang gumulat sa team nung Tuesday night."

Para maisakatuparan ng Viva ang kanilang pangarap na ‘cinderella finish’‚ kailangan nilang remedyuhan ang kanilang mga pagkukulang sa nakaraang Game Four kung saan tanging si Rhangee Sinco lamang ang nakapagtala ng double digit.

Gayunpaman, karanasan pa rin ang magiging pangunahing sandata ng Hapee para mawakasan ang kanilang pitong taong pagkauhaw sa titulo.

Ito ang kaunahang pagkakataong umabot sa Game-Five ang best-of-five series sa loob ng limang taon na huling nangyari noong 1998 Centennial Cup Finals kung saan nanalo ang Ana Water Dispenser sa Tanduay, 3-2.