Toyota Otis goes full speed, eyes third win

Streaking Toyota Otis seeks its third straight win against Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala while Harbour Centre hopes to end a two-game losing run today in the 2007 PBL Silver Cup at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque.

Marvin Cruz, Dennis Daa and Erick Rodriguez will again spearhead the assault of the Toyota Otis Sparks when they collide with the Moneymen at 2 p.m.

The Port Masters battle the resurgent Magnolia Spinners at 4 p.m. in a game that will showcase the exciting match-up between Ateneo’s JC Intal and San Beda’s Yousif Aljamal.

With a smaller line-up, the Sparks, owned by businessman/sportsman Rey Oben, will have their hands full this time as the Moneymen are expected to go all-out to end a three-game losing run.

Still, coach Louie Alas is confident of their chances against the taller and heftier Moneymen.

"We have to use our quickness to beat them, he said. "Of course, our outside shooting will also play a crucial role in our bid to extend our winning streak."

Alas conceded that stopping the 6-foot-5 Bono is a tough task but they will try to limit his production to below 20 points.

The Sparks, who lost to Harbour Centre in a riveting Unity Cup Finals last June, are running fifth in the nine-team field with a 3-2 card. The Moneymen dropped to 2-4 after absorbing a heartbreaking 90-95 double overtime loss to the Mail & More Comets. With their fourth straight wins, the Comets jumped on top of the standings with Hapee-PCU and Henkel Sista-St. Benilde at 5-2.

The 6-foot-3 Aljamal, the prized find from Apalit, Pampanga, has been Magnolia’s go-to-guy as Jonas Villanueva, Jeff Chan and Bonbon Custodio are still trying to adjust to their new roles in the San Beda-dominated team.

In their game against the Hapee Teethmasters, Aljamal fired 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds to power the Spinners to a 79-67 win.

The high-leaping Intal was a mere shadow of his once deadly self as he scored only two points in Harbour’s 72-80 loss to the Sista Super Sealers last Tuesday. He made only one of 11 tries from the field, a performance he himself wants to forget.

Harbour team manager Erick Arejola is convinced that a new Harbour team will come out and play today.

"We had a bull session recently and we discussed some flaws in our game. I hope, our main guys will deliver this time, " Arejola said.