Water Force fancied to beat winless Eagles

Viva Mineral Water-FEU tries to boost its semis bid when it battles Lee Pipes-Ateneo while Montana Pawnshop coach Bong Go eyes a grand farewell in the 2004 PBL Unity Cup at the Pasig Sports Center.

Backstopped by one of the explosive forwards in the league in Arwind Santos and a bevy of deadly snipers, the Water Force are expected to sail smoothly to their fourth win in five starts when they clash with the Eagles at 4 p.m.

The Water Force are currently tied for second with defending champion Hapee Toothpaste at 3-1 while the Eagles have yet to win in three outings. Welcoat Paints remains on top with a perfect 4-0 record.

Montana, toting a 1-3 record, collides with Blustar Detergent in the opening game at 2 p.m. where the Jewels are hoping to give Go — their coach for almost a year — a fitting exit. Both games will be shown live on Studio 23.

Montana team manager Clarence Aytona disclosed that Go has called it quits for health reason and will be coaching the Jewels for the last time today. Ronnie Dojillo, one of Go’s lieutenants, will serve as the interim coach for the meantime until the management finds an able replacement.

The Jewels have one of the solid frontcourt combinations in the league with the presence of 6-foot-5 Alwin Espiritu and bull-strong 6-foot-4 Jondan Salvador but the team is still performing poorly. They almost lost to newcomer Lee Pipes-Ateneo also last week if not for the late exploits of Brian Tolentinio and Ismael Junio.

Still winless in four starts, Blustar coach Leo Isaac knows fully they are in a must-win situation. However, he‚ hoping they can nail down their first win against the Jewels.

But to beat the Jewels, Isaac must draw more firepower by Erick dela Cuesta, Jenkins Mesina and Nino Canaleta. Except for dela Cuesta, Mesina and Canaleta are still struggling offensively.

After exploding for 27 markers in the team’s 75-65 win over Montana last Thursday, the 6-foot-4 Santos is expected to be a markman today and might pitted against Lee Pipes-Ateneo‚s top gun Larry Fonacier.

Aside from Santos who is norming 19.5 points a game, the other problem confronting Lee Pipes-Ateneo coach Sandy Arespacochaga is how to stop Viva-FEU’s vaunted run-and-gun game since the Water Force enjoy a decisive advantage in height and heft.

For the Eagles to prevail, LA Tenorio, BJ Manalo and Fonacier must make their shots from long range, and hopefully vastly-improving JC Intal and Paolo Bugia could hold their ground against Viva-FEU‚s potent forwards, among them Mark Isip, Gerard Jones, Neil Raneses and Santos.