AFTER an extended vacation in the United
States, Fil-Am Gabe Norwood returns to action today as Hapee
Toothpaste debuts in the PBL Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup
against Toyota Otis at The Arena in San Juan.
The 6-foot-5 Norwood will team up with new
recruit Jervy Cruz, the 6-foot-5 center of University of Santo
Tomas in the UAAP who is being trumpeted as the league’s next
important player.
The Hapee-Toyota match is set at 4 p.m.,
with the Complete Protectors also parading a new coach in
Louie Alas, who used to call the shots for the Sparks.
Clashing in the other game at 2 o’clock are
Pharex and Bacchus Energy Drink, with the latter out to end a
two-game losing run to the Medics.
Gracing today’s matches are the charming
and vivacious candidates of the Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant.
The winners in both games will join opening
day winners Harbour Centre and comebacking Noosa Shoes on top
of the leader board. In a brilliant show of firepower, Harbour
Centre, the defending champion, demolished San Mig Coffee
85-77 while Noosa Shoes of Dioceldo Sy stunned Burger King
73-63 last Saturday.
Alas, also calling the shots for Letran in
the NCAA, handled Toyota Otis in its fist three years in the
league, steering the team to a runner-up finish in the same
tournament two years ago. Alas’ partnership with the Rey Oben-owned
team ended early last year, with Toyota tapping Ariel
Vanguardia as coach.
"For sure, it’s going to be a good game, it
will be a tense but exciting one," said Toyota’s
representative to the PBL Board, Gil Angeles. "Just like
Louie, his successor (Vanguardia) is also a good motivator of
the team."
Pharex posted only two wins in its maiden
conference last year but team manager Jean Alabanza and coach
Carlo Tan are hoping they can win more games this time around.
The Medics will be reinforced by Cebuano hotshots Ian Saladaga
and former pro Ronnie Bughao.
Bacchus coach Lawrence Chongson hopes to carry the momentum
of their stunning victory over Toyota Otis last conference
into the season-ending tournament. The team will be bannered
by former UE star Jorel Canizares, Alwyn Espiritu, Mark Yee,
Christian Luanzon and Mark Cagoco.
