Stars, Gems out to seal title series

Manila and Cebu, the 1999 MBA National Finals protagonists, are again headed for an epic title duel in the Intra-Conference Challenge, unless Pasig-Rizal and Davao have other plans.

Emerging as the top qualifiers in the North and South, the defending champion Metrostars and Cebu Gems seek for that one victory today over Davao and Pasig-Rizal, respectively, to figure in the best of three finals.

The homecourt edge will play crucial roles for the two favored squads, with Metrostars kicking off hostilities at 4 p.m. at the Mail & More-San Andres Sports Complex, while the Gems host the Pirates before rabid Cebuano fans at the Cebu City Coliseum in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap.

Victories by the Metrostars and Gems will again put them in an explosive finals series, like last year’s national titular series which saw Manila take the best-of seven series at 4-2.

On a sizzling 10-game winning streak, the Gems are installed as slight favorites though the Pirates are also on a roll since the arrival in mid-season of Dorian Peña and Bong Alvarez.

"We do not feel any pressure in maintaining the winning streak, we treat each game with utmost importance, one game at a time, like what we did the past 10 game," said Gems coach Tonichi Yturri.

Not even the loss of their two key men, Dondon Hontiveros and Rob Wainwright could slow down the Gems, with Yturri pointing out that the Cebu five emerged a more motivated, determined team this year.

"The Gems are a better team this year than the past two years. We may have had better talents in the past, but this year, my players sacrifice a lot more for the team and that’s a big factor," added Yturri.

The Romel Adducul-Alex Comptom duo will form the tip of Manila’s offensive assault, which will surely pose mismatch problems for the Eagles, who are not as deadly when playing away from home.

Fiery head coach Francis Rodriguez returns to the Davao bench after serving a three-game suspension, though backcourt ace Bong Marata won’t be around as he will serve a one-game suspension on top of a P10,000 fine for an elbow foul in their game versus Surigao last month.

Rodriguez, well aware of Adducul and Peter Martin’s imposing presence down low, pointed out that the Eagles will have to do some damage from long range and off the break, with 1999 top rookie Felix Belano and three-point ace Jomar Tierra leading the way.

Right after the best of three Intra-Con Finals, the Southern and Northern Conference semifinals will unfold, leading to the National title series. Only the top four teams in the North (San Juan, Laguna, Manila, Pasig-Rizal) and the South (Cebu, Davao, Negros, Iloilo) will advance to the two Conference playoff rounds