SAN Mig Coffee tests Harbour Centre and its returning stars today when the 2008 PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup, considered as the league’s toughest tournament, gets going today with a pair of tough matches at The Arena in San Juan.

The Harbour-San Mig Coffee match is set at 4 p.m., to be preceded by the 2 o’clock match between Burger King (formerly Mail And More) and comebacking Noosa Shoes.

Hapee Toothpaste, the losing finalist in the last conference, and six other teams, including Noosa Shoes, are all focused on one mission–stopping Harbour Centre at all cost.

With its marquee players back in the team after their Philippine team stint in the last Southeast Asian Games, Harbour Centre is heavily favored to win its fifth straight championship.

Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero believes coach Jorge Gallent is capable of combining the team’s youthful promise and exuberance with its vast championship experience.

"Having won a record four championships gave us the feeling of security in terms of sharing one’s responsibility," said Romero. "The players know their respective roles and they can’t veer away from that."

The Coffee Kings are out to exact revenge from the very same team that ousted in the semis of the last conference. They have started practicing for that mission, and their desire to end a two-year title drought, since last month.

The Dioceldo Sy-owned Noosa squad may not have stars in its fold but coach Leo Isaac and team manager Pat Aquino are convinced their players’ work ethic and resolve will be the team’s biggest weapon.

"Even though we don’t have big stars yet in the team, we intend to produce one, and hopefully we can challenge the league’s giants," said Sy, who served as league chairman for three years before his company took a leave of absence two years ago.

Hapee Toothpaste, beaten by Harbour Centre twice in the finals, including the V-Go Extreme Energy Cup last December, won’t see action until Tuesday along with Toyota Otis, Pharex and Bacchu Energy Drink.

The Philippine Youth, which is gearing up for two major international tournaments this year, will play as a guest team. It will see action Saturday next week against Burger King.

Burger King will parade practically the same team that landed in the quarterfinals last conference.

Veteran Marcy Arellano and former pros Mike Bravo, Chris Baluyot and Abby Santos will lead Burger King which is hoping to land in the semis this time.

Back to display their skills anew with Harbour Centre are back-to-back MVP winner Jason Castro, shooter Jonathan Fernandez, center Beau Belga and defense specialist Chad Alonzo.

The team also has new recruits in Boyet Fernandez and Jeff Chan who also played for the RP team in the Thailand SEA Games.

The return of Castro and Fernandez and the acquisition of the wily Bautista have added teeth to Harbour’s already formidable backcourt crew. The team also boasts of top guards in Ty Tang, Al Vergara and Fil-Am Solomon Mercado, aside from their exciting frontcourt combo of Jerwin Gaco, Chester Taylor and Dylan Ababou.

San Mig coach Koy Banal will again lean on the ever-reliable Bonbon Custodio, promising Glenn Bolocon, Neil Raneses, Jerby del Rosario and Ateneo’s Ford Arao.