Yeo, other PBL stars strut wares

It will be Joseph Yeo, Gabby Espinas, Reed Juntilla and Alex Compton’s turn to strut their wares as action in the 2006 PBL Heroes Cup resumes today with a pair of explosive matches at the JCSGO gym in Cubao.

Yeo, one of the most exciting players to have come out of La Salle the past five years, will spearhead Harbour Centre’s bid when the Port Masters take on the Montaña Pawnshop Jewels at 4 p.m.

Clashing in the 2 p.m. opener are the Espinas-led Hapee-PCU Teeth Masters against the Far Eastern Insurance, a team not only teeming with talent but also raring to make a statement in its maiden campaign in the country’s premier amateur league.

Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat Paints) and Magnolia Dairy Ice Cream lived up to their pre-season hype by scoring impressive wins in Saturday’s opener. The Elasto Painters, drawing big games from Jojo Tangkay and Ronjay Enrile, rode on a big fourth quarter run to turn back Toyota Otis, 81-75, while the Wizards leaned on the heroics of Kim Valenzuela, Kelly Williams and Arwind Santos, to outlast Granny Goose Tortillos, 79-70.

The Jewels have lost several marquee players, foremost of them was Jondan Salvador, but coach Robert Sison remained optimistic of their chances since the team boasts of shooters in Compton and Juntilla.

While Compton strikes normally from beyond the arc, Juntilla, one of the many rising stars from Cebu, has blossomed as one of the league’s versatile players with his potent inside-outside game.

But the Jewels will be hard-pressed to beat the Port Masters who are bannered by some of the finest players from the UAAP and NCAA, among them, University of the East’s Marcy Arellano and Angelus Raymundo, Mapua’s Kelvin dela Peña and San Sebastian’s Red Vicente.

Harbour Centre is one of the smallest teams in the league but coach Dindo Pumaren, who is now calling the shots for the team, believes their quickness and stingy defense will play a big factor in their campaign this time around.

"This is a different Harbour team, we hope to use a college basketball type of game to make up for our lack of ceiling," said Pumaren who is also pinning his hopes on veterans Jerwin Gaco, Jenkins Mesina and Christian Luanzon.

Aside from the 6-foot-5 Espinas, also expected to pitch in their share for the Teeth Masters are Robert Sanz, Jason Castro, Mark Moreno and Aries Gloria. The team also boasts of mid-sized players who are all capable of scoring big baskets.

The Insurers, on the other hand, will be bannered by Arnold Gamboa, Nani Epondulan, Arnold Booker, Jay-R Estrada and Boyet Guerrero — all grizzled veterans.