Toyota Sparks, Harbour Centre 5 eye two-to-nil edge

HARBOUR CENTRE and Toyota Otis, two teams out to establish themselves as the league’s new powers, gun for commanding 2-0 leads against their separate rivals in the semifinals series of the 2006 PBL Unity Cup at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque.

Their confidence boosted by their impressive 85-79 win over Montana Pawnshop in Game 1 of their best-of-5 series, the Portmasters are again expected to show their deadly run-and-gun game when they collide with the Jewels at 4 p.m.

Joseph Yeo, LA Tenorio and fast-improving Chico Lanete will again carry the brunt for the Portmasters who are bidding for their first finals stint since joining the league last year.

Toyota Otis is also hoping for the same result when the Sparks collide with defending champion Rain or Shine at 2 p.m.

But Harbour Centre and Toyota Otis also expect to have their hands full this time since the Elasto Painters and Jewels "permanent fixtures in the finals the last three conferences" are going to make major adjustments.

"I expect coach Nel (Parado) to make some adjustments but we’ll be ready for it. We just have to play smart from start to finish," said coach Jorge Gallent. "I don’t want what happened to us the last time."

The Portmasters, cheered on by youthful owner Mikee Romero, appeared to have the game sewn up last Saturday as early in the first half after taking 56-25 lead.

But they almost blew it after committing a maze of errors and poor shot selection in the ensuing half until Lanete provided key hits to finish with 21 points on top of four rebounds and four assists.

Harbour’s Robbie Reyes will also be a marked man after chipping in 16 points on an impressive 3-of-4 shooting from the field. He also played a key role in holding Al Magpayo to just nine points.

The Sparks, on the other hand, will again rely on pro-bound Joe Calvin Devance and a slew of supporting players who can make things happen for the Louie Alas-mentored squad.

Alas also expects the Elasto Painters to make some adjustments so they won‚t fall to a 0-2 hole in the series.

"If they make some adjustments then we’ll do the same,"said Alas. "I just hope we could sustain the momentum we gained in our victory the last time out."