HAPEE Toothpaste and Harbour Centre try to arrange another championship showdown as they go for the clincher in the semifinal series on the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup today at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

The Complete Protectors and Batang Pier are both holding 2-0 leads in their separate best-of-five series. Harbour Centre and Hapee also met in the finals of the previous tournament with the Batang Pier snatching the crown.

Hapee takes the first crack at the finals against Burger King at 2 p.m. Harbour Centre, on the other hand, seeks an unprecedented five straight stints in the championship opposite San Mig Coffee at 4 p.m.

Coach Louie Alas’s Complete Protectors have been dominating their series with the Whoppers, taking an 82-70 victory in the series opener in Tarlac City, and a masterful 86-66 win in Game Two on Monday in Baguio City.

Filipino-American Gabe Norwood and Reed Juntilla have been delivering the goods for the Lamoiyan franchise, the latter firing a playoff-high 30 points in Game Two.

“I just hope we can sustain this momentum. The players are playing well as of late,” said Alas, who will also bank on Earn Saguindel, Larry Rodriguez and veteran Eugene Tan in finishing off Burger King.

Whoppers mentor Allan Gregoro admits that it is now a tall order for them to get back in the series but he is still hoping that his wards could steal a game from the Unity Cup runner-up.

“It’s not yet over. We just have to believe in ourselves and, hopefully, we can extend the series,” said Gregorio, who has yet to draw solid games from Marcy Arellano and Khiel Misa in the series.

Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent is also wary of the Coffee Kings.

“It’s not yet over. We still need one more win,” said Gallent, who drew clutch performances from Jayson Castro and TY Tang in the final quarter of their 69-55 win in Game Two.

San Mig Coffee has been in this situation before, staring at a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series with Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat) before coming back with three straight wins to clinch the 2006 Heroes Cup title.

That team was also mentored by Koy Banal but the charismatic mentor had a talented crew in Kelly Williams, Arwind Santos, Mark Isip and Dennis Miranda.

Unfortunately, Banal has yet to draw consistent games from his players, particularly from Bonbon Custodio, Neil Raneses and Eric de la Cuesta, the reason his team is down two games.

No Pushover

HOW many times has Manny Pacquiao heard this? A guy—who’s Mexican more often than not—comes into every pre-fight press conference promising he’ll take down the Pacman.

Annika Retires

Annika Sorenstam has always played golf with a controlled precision and singular focus that made her the best player in women’s golf for the better part of a decade, perhaps the best ever.

Baguio City—Nothing stunning but impressive for consistency, Kat Gonzales went beyond the 50-point barrier with 52 points (Modified Stableford system) to push defending champion Manila Southwoods-Masters into the driver’s seat—and possibly the title—in the centerpiece Group I of the fifth Camp John Hay Asian Ladies Team Championship.

THE future of the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) now lies on 19 organizations, which have been declared as official active members of the federation.

HAPEE Toothpaste and Harbour Centre try to arrange another championship showdown as they go for the clincher in the semifinal series on the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup today at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex.

THE Philippines tries to put a lock on the top spot in Group B in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup Qualifiers when it clashes with defending champion Tajikistan at the Iloilo Sports Complex today in Iloilo City.  

WHEN we think of athletes, we think of the healthiest, strongest, fittest people on the planet. We think they’re the epitome of health and strength. But, would you believe, all things being equal, couch potatoes have a better chance of living longer than athletes?