Toyota Otis, Harbour Centre rekindle old PBL rivalry

MANILA, Philippines – Toyota Otis has an axe to grind against Harbour Centre when they clash in Tuesday’s first game of the 2009 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) PG Flex Linoleum Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City. The Sparks and the Batang Pier met in the finals of the Unity Cup three years ago where Toyota squandered a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five title series and allowed the Harbour crew to win the last two games to claim its first of a record five championships. It’s a known secret in the PBL that the Sparks wanted to dislodge Harbour Centre at the top and end its four-year reign but Toyota coach Ariel Vanguardia knows the Batang Pier remains a force in the league. “It will be tough but we will come prepared. We’re a hungry team and this will be an acid test for us," said Vanguardia. “To limit their production, we have to make them work on both ends." But Vanguardia’s Sparks are facing a tall order since the Batang Pier showed no signs of slowing down even without three-time most valuable player Jason Castro, Sol Mercado and TY Tang, Chad Alonzo and Beau Belga in their lineup opening up with an 83-66 win over the Pharex Generix on Saturday. Another interesting match up is the 4pm second game between Hapee Toothpaste and Bacchus Energy Drink and the 6pm encounter in the Women’s PBL where Discovery Suites-RP team will test reigning UAAP champion Far Eastern University-Oracle Residences in the lone match. – GMANews.TV