Montaña seeks fifth win vs Hapee

Montaña Pawnshop and Hapee Toothpaste try to boost their respective bid at each other’s expense as they clash today at resumption of the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

The Jewellers are reeling from a 50-62 setback at the hands of Shark Energy Drink last Tuesday but hope to bounce as they try to notch their fifth win in six games against the Teeth Sparklers at 3:30 p.m.

Hapee, on the other hand, is gunning for its third win in five games for solo third spot.

Meantime, cellar dwellers La Salle-Osaka Iridology and Pharma Quick, toting identical 1-4 (win-loss) cards, part ways at 5:30 p.m.

In another development, to give way to the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada, the first PBL game will not be televised live on PTV Channel 4 and instead will be aired at 8 p.m.

"The PBL is aware of its social responsibilities that we decided to give way to the trial which is of a bigger national concern," said PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad.

The Iridologists are hoping to snap out from three consecutive setbacks but Pharma Quick, fresh from a 69-54 victory over Ateneo-Pioneer, are eyeing them as their next victim.

The Jewelers are going all out to make up for that loss to Shark Energy Drink and coach Leo Isaac said they needed the win to firm up their hold of second place.

"We’ve learned some lessons from that game, and I told the boys that they shouldn’t be adversely affected by the loss but rather take the pains and the lessons for further strengthen ourselves towards the quest for a finals appearance," said Isaac who’ll lean anew on Gilbert Lao, Jacques Gottenbos, Wowie Ybanez, Ernest Medina and Orly Torrente.

Both Montaña and Hapee are defensive teams and have shown in their past games they never give up till the game is over.

And the Teeth Sparklers are perked up to the challenge of facing Montaña as they too wanted to get back from a 56-62 loss to defending champion Welcoat.

"If you noticed our trend, we win this game and we lose the next one. After that loss to Welcoat, malamang manalo kami against Montaña," said Hapee coach Stevenson Tiu who’ll be banking on Mark Saquilayan, Francis Mercado, Alwin Espiritu, Nino Gelig and JB Sison to stop the rivals. — Joey Villar