Defending champion Harbour Centre goes for another milestone when it battles Pharex today even as Noosa Shoes and Toyota Otis tangle in an all-important game in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San Juan.
The Batang Pier and Pharex Medics clash in the featured match at 4 p.m. with the Jorge Gallent-mentored Harbour squad seeking to become the first team in a decade to win 13 straight games.
The Shoe Stars and Sparks tangle at 2 p.m. with both teams determined no notch a seventh win which is the "magic" number to claim one of three remaining quarterfinal berths.
The Medics and Sparks tote similar 6-7 records while the Shoe Stars have a 6-8 win-loss card.
San Mig Coffee, another team in danger of being eliminated early, collides with SEABA-bound Nokia-Philippine Youth team at 2 p.m.
With a 5-8 record, the Coffee Kings need to beat the Nationals to shore up their floundering fortunes.
The Nationals, led by debuting Fil-Canadian Norbert Torres, gave the Shoe Stars some hellish moments before bowing out, 76-83, last week.
The 6-foot-7 Torres sizzled with 17 points, in a performance that drew raves from Commissioner Chino Trinidad.
"He’s tall and mobile, I’m sure he can help the cause of the RP team in the SEABA tournament. I wish the team all the best," said Trinidad.
Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste are tied at No. 2 in the all-time record for the longest winning streak with 12 consecutive wins. Hapee did the trick last year during the Invitational tournament where it both swept the elimination and semis rounds.
The now-defunct Tanduay holds the league’s longest winning run by stringing up 18 win during the 1998 season. Interestingly, Gallent was part of that team.
Gallent hopes to use that as another motivating factor to repeat over the Medics who are still smarting from a 104-99 defeat to Toyota Otis the other at the Oreta Sports Center in Malabon.
"Matching the record set by Tanduay is a tall order but we will use it as a challenge so that my boys will work harder," said Gallent, who is again expected to rely on veterans Jason Castro, Jeff Chan, Edwin Asoro, TY Tang, Jerwin Gaco and Chad Alonzo.
Gaco and Alonzo, known in the league as "Bruise Brothers" for their tough and sometimes rugged plays, will play vital roles for the team in the absence of center Beau Belga.
The 6-foot-6 Begla is still serving his three-game suspension which started during the team’s 76-71 win over Noosa Shoes last Tuesday in Muntinlupa.
Jonathan Aldave and Patrick Cabahug are expected to lead the Sparks anew after drilling in 25 and 21 points, respectively, in the team’s victory over the Medics.
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