Harbour, Toyota try to seal PBL title clash

Harbour Centre and Toyota Balintawak try to arrange a title showdown for the 2007 PBL Unity Cup as they seek a pair of repeat victories over their respective rivals today in the semifinal round at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque.

The Batang Pier, seeking a third straight championship, take on the Henkel-Sista side at 2 p.m., confident of duplicating their imposing 87-62 rout in the opener of their best-of-series last Saturday.

The Roadkings, on the other hand, brace for a tough outing against the Cebuana Lhuillier Moneymen, whom they survived, 68-65, to move within a victory from advancing to the finals.

Victories by Harbour Centre and Toyota Balintawak will pave the way for a third straight showdown between the Batang Pier and the Roadkings, who met in the finals last year and the semis last conference with Harbour both prevailing in five games.

“That’s interesting,” said Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent, out to steer the Mikee Romero-owned franchise to a rare three-peat.

“But I hope we won’t become too confident. We need to keep the killer instinct,” said Gallent.

One thing that could go against Harbour is the return to active duty of Fil-Am Ryan Reyes, the spitfirish Henkel-Sista guard, who saw action for just one minute in Game One due to groin injury.

“I’ll be ready for Game 2, I have to play and help the team,” said Reyes, who averaged more than 14 points a game heading into the semis.

Gallent, however, said Ryan Arana will be there to check Reyes.

“We want to finish the series early but we have to keep our focus and play solid defensively. We can’t take Sista easily, it has also the materials,” said Gallent, who will also pin his hopes on the likes of JC Intal, Jason Castro, Chico Lanete, Chad Alonzo, Al Vergara, Jonathan Fernandez and Edwin Asoro.

Cebuana’s Game 1 meltdown could be an eye opener for coach Luigi Trillo. The Moneymen bungled their last seven possessions in a five-minute span as they failed to execute their plays owing to Toyota’s rock-solid 2-3- defense.

Marvin Cruz, one of the league’s top point guards, completed a three-point play off Macky Escalona’s foul in the last three minutes to highlight the team’s stirring come from behind win.

The victory was actually the first for the Roadkings over the Moneymen in three meetings this season.

Aside from Cruz, the other players to watch for Toyota are Patrick Cabahug, Joe Devance, Erick Rodriguez and Eugene Tan.