Viva surges as Welcoat fades

Fans who watched the PBL Unity Cup finals were expecting another classic battle reminiscent of last year. They didn’t go home disappointed.

Viva-FEU found a way to derail Welcoat Paint’s high-octane running game as it pulled off a 59-54 overtime victory before a rip-roaring Pasig Sports Center crowd to gain a crucial 1-0 edge in their best-of-five title series.

MVP leader Arwind Santos and Dennis Miranda churned in a pair of spectacular efforts but their finest moment came in the final two minutes of regulation when they erased a five-point deficit to force the overtime.

Santos unleashed a double-double effort with 17 points and 13 rebounds while Miranda had 14 markers on top of four boards, two assists, a steal and a block in a performance that pushed the Water Force closer to their first ever PBL title.

While Santos and Miranda got most of the job done, Warren Ybañes did the rest as he scored four of his six points in extra time that broke the backs of the Paint Masters.

"This win showed that we have the heart," said Viva coach Koy Banal, who is hoping to erase the stigma of a five-game title loss to dethroned champion Hapee Toothpaste last year.

Game 2 resumes on Tuesday also at the Pasig Sports Center with the Water Force seeking a comfortable 2-0 advantage while the Paint Masters are eyeing to knot the series at one game apiece. But more than the heroic efforts by Santos, Miranda and Ybañes, it was defense that spelled victory for Viva.

The Water Force held the prolific duo of Jojo Tangkay and Chester Tolomia known as the T2 — to a combined output of 20 points. Tangkay had 15 of it including four triples but he was scoreless in OT that hastened Welcoat’s downfall.

"Defense did it for us," said Banal, whose glaring resume’s as a coach included a UAAP crown last season. "We played good defense today and we stopped their scorers from doing what they like."

Pocket size Lou Gatumbato stepped up when his teammates struggled by exploding with 15 markers, nine of which coming from behind the arc, but had a number of turnovers late in regulation and in OT that helped clinched the Paint Masters’ door.

Tolomia, who was limited to just five points on a two-of-seven clip, had a chance to force a second OT but his three-point attempt on top of the key misfired, sending the Water Force and their avid supporters into frenzy.