Granny Goose seeks solo second vs Toyota Otis

Granny Goose Tortillos tries to break out of a four-way tie for second as it battles Toyota Otis even as Harbour Centre clashes with Far Eastern Insurance in a duel of tailenders in the 2006 PBL Heroes Cup at the Letran Gym in Intramuros.

Coming off a heart-breaking loss to league-leading Magnolia Dairy Ice Cream last Saturday, the Snackmasters are expected to go all-out in their 4 p.m. tussle with Toyota Otis, eyeing their fifth win in eight games and hoping to stay within the league-leading Wizards (6-1).

Providing the appetizer in the 2 p.m. contest are Harbour Centre and Far Eastern Insurance with the Port Masters raring to snap a five-game losing run.

With both teams carrying similar 2-5 win-loss cards, expect the game between Harbour Centre and Far Eastern Insurance to be just as exciting and tight like the first time they met.

The Port Masters won that match, 87-78, but the Insurers can’t be taken for granted this time, having won two of their last three games, including a stunning 65-60 win over the Wizards.

Granny Goose Tortillos also goes into the game enjoying a big psychological advantage, having beaten the Intramuros squad, 62-54, last month. Toyota Otis is also coming off a stinging 58-61 loss to Rain or Shine last Sunday.

A Granny Goose win will enable the Snackmasters to get out of a four-way logjam with Rain or Shine, Hapee-PCU and Montaña Pawnshop at 4-3.

Coach Joe Lipa is hoping that his players will play with the same intensity and resolve they dished out against the Wizards although they were beaten, 69-65.

Without the beefy 6-foot-5 center JR Quinahan, Lipa is relying heavily on the sniping of Jett Latonio and Dennis Concha, the hustle of Marvin Cruz and the muscles of Abby Santos and Alfie Grijaldo underneath.

Interestingly, this will be the first time that Toyota Otis coach Louie Alas will be facing Lipa, his mentor for many years during his playing days in the PABL (Philippine Amateurt Basketball League) — the forerunner of the league.