Not to be outdone, counterpart Jorge Gallent said a portion of the Harbour Centre awaits the Port Masters should they end up triumphant in the best-of-five title series.

While these may have been said in jest, both coaches revealed just how much is at stake in their finals encounter that begins tomorrow at the Olivarez College Sports Center.

"Equal chances ito. Pareho kaming perimeter team. We have the same strength and weaknesses. So I expect a long series," said Alas in the weekly PSA Forum yesterday where he appeared along with Gallent, and players and officials of both Toyota Otis and Harbour Centre.

"We’ll take everything one game at a time, although I’ll admit na mas lamang sila sa height because meron silang 6’6 and 6’7," said Gallent, obviously referring to the Sparks’ Twin Tower of Mark Andaya and Joe Devance, formerly out of University of Texas in El Paso and the leading candidate for the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) honor.

Andaya and Devance were also in the public sports program sponsored by PAGCOR and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza together with teammates Boyet Bautista, JV Casio, team manager Baby Oben and Toyota Otis Board representative and league vice chairman Gil Angeles.

Harbour Center was represented by stalwarts L.A. Tenorio, Joseph Yeo and Chico Lanete along with team manager Eric Arejola.

"It’s our first time in the finals, and we’re up against a very, very strong team," Angeles said. "But we’re prepared and ready."

Gallent, a key player with Tanduay when it was lording over the PBL during the mid-90s, admitted his team is peaking just at the right place and at the right time, having beaten higher seeded teams Granny Goose (quarterfinals) and Montana (semifinals) on its way to its first Finals appearance.

Still, that doesn’t mean the Port Masters have to take the Sparks lightly.

"Toyota has been no. 1 the whole tournament and they have been consistent at being no. 1," he said.

Alas tried to downplay whatever advantages his Toyota squad has, pointing out that while the Sparks may have boast the bruising duo of Devance and Andaya, Harbour Centre for its part has the young and energetic forward in Rico Maierhofer and Fil-Am Rob Reyes, the league’s Best Defensive Player in the last conference.

He also added that the intangible factors such as injuries and the will to win are also going to play a crucial part in the series.

"Pagdating sa finals puwede ng itapon ang stats," said Alas, architect of Letran’s two NCAA basketball championships in the last three years.

Devance, Tenorio, Yeo, Lanete and Andaya acknowledged that they are turning professional shortly after the PBL season. All of them naturally want to leave the amateur backyard on a winning note.

"It would be nice to win a championship before going to the PBA," said Devance.

"Kahit sino namang player di ba na aakyat sa PBA, gusto mag-champion muna sa amateur," said Tenorio, who, along with Lanete and Yeo, forms the Port Masters deadly, high-scoring backcourt rotation.