HAPEE Toothpaste has an ax to grind against Noosa Shoes when they meet for the second time in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup Thursday at The Arena in San Juan.

The Complete Protectors hope to avenge their heart-breaking 77-76 loss in the first round to the Shoe Stars in their 4 p.m. encounter.

In the first game, Pharex hopes to remain in second spot when it faces the struggling San Mig Coffee at 2 p.m. The Medics are currently tied with Hapee for second spot with a 5-3 win-loss mark behind league-leader Harbour Center (8-0).

Noy Javier buried the dagger in the hearts of the Complete Protectors in their first meeting with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave the latter their first defeat in the tournament.

And Hapee coach Louie Alas admitted it was disappointing, but they are now playing better after a disappointing first round.

Against Noosa, currently in the middle of the pack with a 3-4 win-loss slate, Alas knows that the wards of coach Leo Isaac are dangerous when their perimeter and transition games are on.

“We have to contain their shooters, particularly Javier, John Wilson, Jemal Vizcarra and Kelvin de la Peña, to have a better chance in the game,” said Alas, whose team is coming off a thrilling 85-83 double-overtime win against Burger King.

“Noosa is also good in its fastbreak and transition plays. We must also stop that,” Alas added.

Hapee will bank on Filipino-American Gabe Norwood, Jervy Cruz, Mark Borboran and Earn Saguindel in trying to clinch its second straight win and sixth overall.

In the opener, Pharex is a slight favorite over the Coffee Kings of coach Koy Banal who are on a three-game slide.

The Medics are expected to bounce back from a 99-79 shellacking at the hands of Batang Pier in their last game and coach Carlo Tan hopes that his players will recover from that humiliating defeat.

Although on a losing streak, San Mig Coffee is still playing competitive basketball, losing to Toyota Otis by just six, 86-92, and by one to Bacchus Energy Drink, 62-63, in its last two games.

But Banal needs his other players besides Bonbon Custodio to contribute. The five-foot-11 Custodio, who is averaging 20.5 points per game in the last two outings, is the most consistent so far on the team.

Pharex, easily the most improved team in the tournament, will rely on Ronnie Bughao, Don Villamin, Emerson Oreta, Francis Allera, Ian Saladaga and Jam Alfad to get its sixth win in 10 games.

The Medics won just two games in their debut last conference in the Unity Cup. 

More difficult, huh?

Frankie Miñoza had said that to become champion of the Philippine Open, one has to beat the tough East course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. 

Future still looking bright for Peñalosa

THERE are a number of golden opportunities in store for world-bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa should he successfully defend his crown this Sunday.

JAKARTA—Supposedly it was only one import, then came a second. Then there was a passport issue on one, before Indonesian immigration officials held the other for more than two hours for no reason apparently.

HAPEE Toothpaste has an ax to grind against Noosa Shoes when they meet for the second time in the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup Thursday at The Arena in San Juan.

IN a display of commitment and willingness to serve the Philippine colors, the board of governors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) unanimously agreed to immediately form a committee that will sit down with officials of the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) to discuss a new memorandum of agreement (MOA).

MANY have seen him on television, performing a parking maneuver between two parked vehicles and inserting his tiny car in a single deft move without damage to any vehicles.

IT’S another hot summer, sports-wise, like it’s always been, says my editor, Jun Lomi, who has the (un)enviable job of watching the whole panorama of summer sports unfold before his eyes—daily—while the sun blazes overhead.