Correspondent

KOY BANAL wanted a championship team. So he got players who’ve won a couple in college before. Now, Banal’s San Mig Coffee looks like it’s hitting the road to its own title drive.

Pong Escobal scored 23 points and Sam Ekwe finished with a double-double as the Coffee Kings defeated Harbour Centre, 80-72, in the semifinal opener of the Philippine Basketball League V-Go Energy Drink Cup yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Escobal and Ekwe, both of two-time defending champion San Beda, were instrumental in the victory in different ways.

Point-guard Escobal scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and center Ekwe accounted for 15 rebounds to go with 16 points as the Coffee Kings opened final-four hostilities against the defending champions.

And the best-of-three series could be over quickly with Game Two set tomorrow (Saturday).

“Defense gave us a big lift, although [Solomon] Mercado had a career game, we were able to shut down the other [Harbour Centre] guys,” Banal said.

Mercado, the Filipino-American sensation who is a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, scored a game-high 33 points and was nearly unstoppable. His three-pointer midway through the fourth tied the game at 64.

The Coffee Kings, infused with championship-tested players, maintained their composure. Ekwe hit a side jumper and teammate Glen Balocon scored two field goals to push San Mig Coffee ahead, 70-64, less than three minutes remaining and insure the victory.

Escobal, Ekwe and Ogie Menor were given the green light only recently by San Beda officials to see action for the Coffee Kings. The trio debuted for the team Tuesday when San Mig Coffee defeated Pharex, 77-65, in a one-game quarterfinal.

“I’m very glad to have these players,” said Banal, the coach of San Beda’s 2006 championship season.

Neil Rañeses chipped in 14, while Balocon had 10.

Rico Maierhofer added 15 points and 12 rebounds for Harbour Center.

In the second game, Reed Juntilla sank a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left and Hapee Toothpaste survived to nose out Toyota Balintawak 83-80.

Larry Rodriguez led the Complete Protectors with 17 points. Gabe Norwood added 14 for a Hapee team looking to sweep the series also tomorrow.

Erwin Santa Maria led Toyota with 21 points.

“The break was on our side,” said Hapee coach Jun Noel. “I admit there was too much pressure in sustaining our winning form.”

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KOY BANAL wanted a championship team. So he got players who’ve won a couple in college before. Now, Banal’s San Mig Coffee looks like it’s hitting the road to its own title drive.

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