Viva trounces Hapee, seals duel vs Welcoat

Welcoat got a free ride to the finals of the PBL Unity Cup, thanks to Viva Mineral Water-FEU which blasted Hapee Toothpaste, 49-41, yesterday at the close of the semifinal round at the Pasig Sports Center.

In a game they could afford to lose, the Water Force who clinched the first finals slot as early as last week, played true to form and used their height advantage to the hilt to frustrate the team that crushed their dream for what could have been a Cinderella finish last year.

The Teeth Sparklers beat the Water Force in an exciting finals last year, 3-2.

The Teeth Sparklers did play tough defense but struggled in the offensive end and lost, enabling the Paint Masters to clinch the second finals slot.

Game 1 of the best-of-5 title series between Viva-FEU and Welcoat is slated Saturday.

The Teeth Sparklers, who also won the Platinum Cup four months ago, were relegated into a knockout match for third place with Toyota Otis-Letran.

Earlier, the Paint Masters unloaded one big salvo after another in a dominating third quarter performance to get back at the Knights, 76-66, in a win that confirmed their readiness to face the Water Force in the finals.

"We’re ready for anything, kung dadaan pa kami sa playoff we’ll be ready for it, kung sa finals na kaagad, much more," said Welcoat coach Caloy Garcia, the youngest mentor in the league at 29.

With Hapee and Viva-FEU concentrating much on defense, the finals scores of both teams may go down as the lowest so far in years. Hapee’s 22-point output at the end of the third is also the lowest this conference.

Hapee’s 20 percent shooting from the field, converting only 14 of 71 tries, is the worst shooting performance by a team for years.

The Water Force controlled the tempo of the game, leading as many as 14 points in the first half before slowing down a bit near the end that enabled the Teeth Sparklers to come to within 35-41.

But two free throws by Dennis Miranda made Hapee coach Junel Baculi sad.

So apparent was their desire to avenge their 68-71 loss to the reigning NCAA champions last week, the Paint Masters fought hard for every loose ball, defended well and rebounded ferociously that somehow baffled and sapped the energy the Intramuros-based squad.

Hardly a factor the last time the two squads clashed, Jojo Tangkay presided over Welcoat’s bristling assault, scoring eight of his team-high 13 points in that back-breaking run as the Paint Masters ended their semis campaign on a high note.

It was the fourth win by the Paint Masters in the semis to finish with a 10-6 card while the Knights, who were relegated into a battle for third place, wound up with a 5-11 slate.

But whether they will end up third or fourth, the Knights have already overachieved since nobody gave them a second look prior to the start of the conference.

"No matter what happens in the battle for third place I’m so proud with what my boys have achieved," said coach Louie Alas. "We did not expect to reach the semis round but we did."

Aside from Tangkay, also shining for the Paint Masters were former University of the East star Jay-Arr Estrada and Donald Dulay who combined for 15 points in a pivotal third quarter attack.

Protecting a slim 37-36 lead, Estrada hit back-to-back baskets early in the third to touch off an 8-2 attack for a 45-38 advantage. And just when Tangkay and Dulay’s shots started to fall, the Paint Masters erected a 63-47 lead.

The Knights never recovered from there on as Garcia had the luxury of using his second and third stringers. To his delight, they responded all.

The Knights was paced by Jonathan Aldave’s 15 points as Boyet Bautista and Ronjay Enrile struggled offensively in the face of Welcoat’s stifling defense.