DEFENDING champion Harbour Centre rode on a
whirlwind finish to get back at first round tormentor Burger
King 83-79 and streak to its sixth straight victory in the
2007 PBL Unity Cup at the Olivarez Sports Center in Paranaque.
Richard Alonzo, Beau Belga and JC Intal
came through with clutch baskets down the stretch as the
Batang Pier completed another come-from-behind win, solidified
their hold of the solo lead at 6-1 and boosted their semis
bid.
The 6-foot-4 Alonzo led Harbour Centre in
scoring for the first time with 18 points, including a put
back with two minutes left that ignited the team’s strong
finish and enabled the Batang Pier to avenge their 77-81
defeat to the Burger Whoppers in the first round.
Burger King absorbed its third straight
loss after winning its first four games.
"We did not get enough firepower from Jason
(Castro) but my big men stepped up big," said Harbour coach
Jorge Gallent. "This is a big, big win for us because we’re
going to face Toyota Balintawak on Saturday."
In the other game, Henkel-Sista outlasted
Toyota Balintawak 82-70 in overtime and improved to 4-4 while
dealing the Roadkings their fourth setback in seven outings.
The high-flying Intal put Harbour back into
the driver’s seat by scoring on a spectacular drive 77-76 with
1:35 left. Belga made it 79-76 by sinking two gift shots.
Mike Bravo retaliated with a tough basket
as Burger King kept alive its hopes of a repeat win. After two
charities by Castro, however, Bravo lost the ball to Castro,
ending the Whoppers’ hopes.
Meanwhile, former MVP Joe Devance will be
back in the country to suit up anew with former team Toyota
Balintawak.
The 6-foot-7 Devance, who helped Toyota
Balintawak (formerly Toyota Otis) reach the finals of the
Unity Cup last year.
Burger Center JR Quinahan was not fielded back after
scoring 14 points in the first three quarters because,
according to coach Lawrence Chongson, Quinahan was not
"focused."
