The Detergent Kings, currently in the magic six with a 3-5 (win-loss) slate, have picked up a pair of huge victories over powerhouse Welcoat Paints and resurgent Lee Pipes-Ateneo and another win in their 4 p.m. duel with the Tigers would strengthen their quarterfinal bid.
Blustar hopes to lean on Eric dela Cuesta, who hit the game-winner in his team’s 65-64 triumph over the Eagles last week, anew although the DSS Productmakers, Inc.-owned franchise is expected to draw the vital support from a fast-rising Dondon Villamin, Jam Alfad, Allan Gamboa and Roland Pascual.
But it would not be a walk in the park for the Platinum Cup third placers as the Alex Compton-Tigers (4-4) are unbeateable at the UST Gym in four games the latter played there last season.
"I don’t know why, but we always play well at our own gym," said Sunkist-UST coach Nel Parado, who will also coach the Tigers in this year’s UAAP cage season.
But attention should focus on the duel between pacesetter Viva-FEU and defending champion Hapee Toothpaste at 2 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s first Unity Cup finalists.
The Water Force, atop the heap with a 7-1 card, are hoping to bank on the experience they got from topping a tough invitational tournament in Guam recently as they collide with the dangerous Teeth Sparklers, bunched with the Tigers at No. 3 spot on 4-4 records.
"We’ve learned a lot from our experience in Guam and we hope to use it in the PBL," said Viva-FEU mentor Koy Banal, who arrived late Monday from Guam after beating Japan’s Daito Banka University in Sunday’s finals.
Hapee coach Junel Baculi, the league’s winningest active coach to date with seven including three for the Lamoiyan franchise, is confident of their chances against the Water Force.
"We prepared for that game versus Viva," said Baculi. "We’ll win if we could limit their production."