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By Emil Noguera, Correspondent
There’s no bad blood between
Toyota Otis and new Hapee Toothpaste coach Louie Alas.
But expect a tough and exciting
action when Alas and his former team cross paths today in the
resumption of the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at The Arena in San
Juan.
The Toyota Otis Sparks and Hapee
Complete Protectors meet at 4 p.m. following the 2 p.m. encounter
between Pharex and Bacchus Energy Drink with the latter out to end a
two-game losing run to the Medics.
The debut of UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz
for Hapee Toothpaste is likewise to draw great attention since the
6-foot-5 University of Santo Tomas center is being trumpeted as the
next important player of the league.
Actually, it’s going to be a
triple treat for PBL fans today as the charming and vivacious
candidates of Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant will be watching both
games.
The winner in both games will
join opening-day winners Harbour Centre and comebacking Noosa Shoes
on top of the leaderboard.
In a brilliant show of firepower,
Harbour Centre, the defending champion, demolished San Mig Coffee,
85-77, while Noosa Shoes of Dioceldo Sy stunned Burger King, 73-63.
Alas, who is also calling the
shots for Letran in the NCAA, handled Toyota Otis in its fist three
years in the league where he steered the team to a runner-up finish
in the same tournament two years ago.
Alas’ partnership with the Rey
Oben-owned team ended early last year.
Board representative Gil Angeles
and team manager Baby Oben expect the game with the Complete
Protectors to be a dramatic one.
“For sure, it’s going to be a
good game, it will be a tense but exciting one,” said Angeles.
“Just like Louie, his successor [Ariel Vanguardia] is also a good
motivator of the team.”
Besides Cruz, Hapee can always
cound on Fil-Am Gabe Norwood, Mark Borboran, Larry Rodriguez and
Reed Juntilla.
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